Photo: PrasadBasavaraj1 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey-necked Bunting
Emberiza buchanani
Grey-necked Bunting (Emberiza buchanani) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey-necked Bunting (Emberiza buchanani) is a member of the Emberizidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 21.2 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 buchanani
Where it lives
Temperate montane southwest to south-central Palearctic dry rocky hills: eastern Turkey, northeastern Iraq, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, southern Turkmenistan, eastern Uzbekistan, central, eastern Kazakhstan, south-central Russia and western, central, southern Mongolia; in south through Afghanistan to north-central Pakistan and western, northern Xinjiang (northwestern China)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 21.2 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Emberizidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-necked Bunting is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Grey-necked Bunting is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Grey-necked Bunting (Emberiza buchanani) belongs to the Emberizidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL temperate montane sw to sc Palearctic dry rocky hills: e Turkey, ne Iraq, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, s Turkmenistan, e Uzbekistan, c, e Kazakhstan, sc Russia and w, c, s Mongolia; in s through Afghanistan to nc Pakistan and w, n Xinjiang (nw China).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21.2 g, with a wing length of about 8.6 cm and a tail of around 6.9 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 2.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-necked Bunting?
The Grey-necked Bunting is a small bird that weighs around 21.2 g.
Where does the Grey-necked Bunting live?
The Grey-necked Bunting is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL temperate montane sw to sc Palearctic dry rocky hills: e Turkey, ne Iraq, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, s Turkmenistan, e Uzbekistan, c, e Kazakhstan, sc Russia and w, c, s Mongolia; in s through Afghanistan to nc Pakistan and w, n Xinjiang (nw China), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Grey-necked Bunting belong to?
The Grey-necked Bunting (Emberiza buchanani) belongs to the Emberizidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Grey-necked Bunting eat?
The Grey-necked Bunting is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Grey-necked Bunting migrate?
The Grey-necked Bunting is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Grey-necked 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 Grey-necked Bunting make?
1 real field recording of the Grey-necked Bunting — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Grey-necked Bunting's range?
The Grey-necked Bunting has a mapped global range of about 2.9 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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