Black-headed Bunting
Emberiza melanocephala
Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) is a member of the Emberizidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 28.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Emberizidae Buntings
- Genus Emberiza
- Species melanocephala
Where it lives
South-central Europe to southwestern Asian open woods, scrub: southwestern France, Italy, Balkans northeast to southeastern Ukraine and southwestern Russia and Caucasus; in south to Greece, Crete, Turkey, Cyprus to northern Israel and northern Jordan, east through northwestern Syria and northern Iraq to north-central, southeastern Iran
Quick facts
- Weight
- 28.3 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Emberizidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-headed Bunting is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Black-headed Bunting is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) is a member of the Emberizidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL sc Europe to sw Asian open woods, scrub: sw France, Italy, Balkans ne to se Ukraine and sw Russia and Caucasus; in s to Greece, Crete, Turkey, Cyprus to n Israel and n Jordan, e through nw Syria and n Iraq to nc, se Iran.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 28.3 g, with a wing length of about 9.4 cm and a tail of around 7.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-headed Bunting?
The Black-headed Bunting is a small bird that weighs around 28.3 g.
Where does the Black-headed Bunting live?
The Black-headed Bunting is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL sc Europe to sw Asian open woods, scrub: sw France, Italy, Balkans ne to se Ukraine and sw Russia and Caucasus; in s to Greece, Crete, Turkey, Cyprus to n Israel and n Jordan, e through nw Syria and n Iraq to nc, se Iran, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-headed Bunting belong to?
The Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) belongs to the Emberizidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-headed Bunting eat?
The Black-headed Bunting is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Black-headed Bunting migrate?
The Black-headed Bunting is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Black-headed Bunting endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-headed Bunting make?
1 real field recording of the Black-headed Bunting — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-headed Bunting's range?
The Black-headed Bunting has a mapped global range of about 2.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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