Photo: Dr. Raju Kasambe / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-headed Bunting
Emberiza bruniceps
Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) is a member of the Emberizidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 24.8 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 bruniceps
Where it lives
Temperate central Palearctic shrub-steppe to oases: southwestern Russia in Astrakhan, Kazakhstan (except far northern) and southeastern Orenburg (south-central Russia) to northwestern Xinjiang (northwestern China) and far southwestern Mongolia; in south to north-central, northeastern Iran, northern, eastern Afghanistan and northern Baluchistan, far western Pakistan through Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 24.8 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Emberizidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-headed Bunting is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Red-headed Bunting is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) is a species of bird in the Emberizidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL temperate c Palearctic shrub-steppe to oases: sw Russia in Astrakhan, Kazakhstan (except far n) and se Orenburg (sc Russia) to nw Xinjiang (nw China) and far sw Mongolia; in s to nc, ne Iran, n, e Afghanistan and n Baluchistan, far w Pakistan through Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 24.8 g, with a wing length of about 8.6 cm and a tail of around 6.8 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 4.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-headed Bunting?
The Red-headed Bunting is a small bird that weighs around 24.8 g.
Where does the Red-headed Bunting live?
The Red-headed Bunting is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL temperate c Palearctic shrub-steppe to oases: sw Russia in Astrakhan, Kazakhstan (except far n) and se Orenburg (sc Russia) to nw Xinjiang (nw China) and far sw Mongolia; in s to nc, ne Iran, n, e Afghanistan and n Baluchistan, far w Pakistan through Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Red-headed Bunting belong to?
The Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) belongs to the Emberizidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-headed Bunting eat?
The Red-headed Bunting is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Red-headed Bunting migrate?
The Red-headed Bunting is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Red-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 Red-headed Bunting make?
1 real field recording of the Red-headed 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 Red-headed Bunting's range?
The Red-headed Bunting has a mapped global range of about 4.1 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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