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Yellow-browed Bunting
Emberiza chrysophrys
Identify the Yellow-browed Bunting by sound or photo and log your sightings with Birdpass.
The Yellow-browed Bunting is a small taiga bunting of eastern Siberia, notable for the male's bold black-and-white head with a bright yellow eyebrow. It winters in central and southern China and only rarely strays to Europe. Brown and heavily streaked above with mostly white underparts streaked on the flanks, it has a pinkish bill and a relatively large head.
Did you know?
- Its scientific name, chrysophrys, means “golden-browed”, a nod to the male's yellow eyebrow.
- Females and young can resemble Little Buntings but always show at least a touch of yellow in the eyebrow.
About the species
Identification
A small, brown-streaked bunting with pale underparts. The male has a clear yellow supercilium and dark head stripes that give the face strong contrast; the female is more subdued but also has a yellowish supercilium. Told from similar species such as Little Bunting by the yellow in the face and bolder head stripes; it also shows a faint white crown stripe.
Family
Emberizidae
Size
Small (sparrow)
Colours
brown, white, black, yellow
About the habitat
Breeds in the taiga zone of eastern Siberia, in open conifer and mixed forest with undergrowth; winters in woodland edges, scrub and fields in central and southern China.
Diet
Adults mainly eat seeds; nestlings are fed insects.
Behaviour
A migratory songbird that breeds in the taiga, where it nests low in trees or bushes and usually lays four eggs. In winter it forages on the ground in woodland edges and scrub, often in small groups.
Sources
Photo: Devonpike, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yellow-browed bunting (Emberiza chrysophrys) Eocheong Island Korea 2012.jpg
Text: Wikipedia (English), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-browed_bunting
 Eocheong Island Korea 2012.jpg){kind=link}