Photo: El Golli Mohamed / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
House Bunting
Emberiza sahari
House Bunting (Emberiza sahari) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The House Bunting (Emberiza sahari) is a member of the Emberizidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 14.8 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 sahari
Where it lives
Northwestern, north-central African arid-zone human dwellings and rocky areas: Morocco and Mauritania east to northwestern Libya and northern Chad
Quick facts
- Weight
- 14.8 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Emberizidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The House 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 House Bunting is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The House Bunting (Emberiza sahari) belongs to the Emberizidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF nw, nc African arid-zone human dwellings and rocky areas: Morocco and Mauritania e to nw Libya and n Chad.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14.8 g, with a wing length of about 7.3 cm and a tail of around 6.3 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 1.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the House Bunting?
The House Bunting is a very small bird that weighs around 14.8 g.
Where does the House Bunting live?
The House Bunting is found across Africa with a range covering AF nw, nc African arid-zone human dwellings and rocky areas: Morocco and Mauritania e to nw Libya and n Chad, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the House Bunting belong to?
The House Bunting (Emberiza sahari) belongs to the Emberizidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the House Bunting eat?
The House Bunting is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the House Bunting migrate?
The House Bunting is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the House 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 House Bunting make?
1 real field recording of the House Bunting — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the House Bunting's range?
The House Bunting has a mapped global range of about 1.4 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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