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GrasslandCavity nestSmall · 22 g
ID tip
Males have a prominent crest, yellowish beak, black body plumage contrasting with the rufous flight feathers of the wing and tail. Females are shorter crested and have an overall dull-olive brown colour with dark brown streaks. The wing and tail feathers are fringed in cinnamon. Females have a grey beak. Non-breeding males are buffish grey and subadults have black tips to the rufous primary coverts. The species was formerly placed in the monotypic genus Melophus but DNA sequence based phylogenies showed it to be nested within other Emberiza species.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Crested Bunting
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is April, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Crested Bunting
The map shades 12 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
About the Crested Bunting
The crested bunting is a species of bird in the family Emberizidae. It is sparrow sized with males having rufous wings and tail on a black body and females being less contrastingly coloured in dull brown. Both males and females have the distinctive crest. The species was formerly placed in an monotypic genus Melophus on account of its crest, unique among the buntings. The species has a wide but scattered distribution in Asia. They are found in mostly open and dry habitats over a range of altitudes. Populations in the higher elevations of the Himalayas show seasonal altitudinal movements. They are more gregarious in winter.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Cretzschmar's BuntingEmberiza caesiaThis bird is smaller than ortolan.
House BuntingEmberiza sahariThe house bunting is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae.
Pallas's Reed BuntingEmberiza pallasiPallas's reed bunting is a small passerine bird, similar to a small reed bunting and possesses a small granivore-type bill.
Side by side: Crested Bunting vs Cretzschmar's Bunting · Crested Bunting vs Pallas's Reed Bunting
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