Photo: Hobbyfotowiki / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rock Bunting
Emberiza cia
Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 15 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) is a member of the Emberizidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 23.4 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 cia
Where it lives
Subtropical to temperate montane western, central Palearctic rocky, bushy slopes: Iberian Pen. and central France through southern Germany, Slovakia, southwestern Russia through northern Iran and southern Turkmenistan to eastern Kazakhstan, northwestern, western Xinjiang (northwestern China) and east to far western Mongolia; in south from Morocco to Tunisia (northwestern, north-central Africa), Mediterranean to Israel, southern Iran, Afghanistan and western, central Himalayas
Quick facts
- Weight
- 23.4 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Emberizidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rock Bunting is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Rock Bunting is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) is a member of the Emberizidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL subtropical to temperate montane w, c Palearctic rocky, bushy slopes: Iberian Pen. and c France through s Germany, Slovakia, sw Russia through n Iran and s Turkmenistan to e Kazakhstan, nw, w Xinjiang (nw China) and e to far w Mongolia; in s from Morocco to Tunisia (nw, nc Africa), Mediterranean to Israel, s Iran, Afghanistan and w, c Himalayas.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 23.4 g, with a wing length of about 8 cm and a tail of around 7 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 4.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rock Bunting?
The Rock Bunting is a small bird that weighs around 23.4 g.
Where does the Rock Bunting live?
The Rock Bunting is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL subtropical to temperate montane w, c Palearctic rocky, bushy slopes: Iberian Pen. and c France through s Germany, Slovakia, sw Russia through n Iran and s Turkmenistan to e Kazakhstan, nw, w Xinjiang (nw China) and e to far w Mongolia; in s from Morocco to Tunisia (nw, nc Africa), Mediterranean to Israel, s Iran, Afghanistan and w, c Himalayas, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Rock Bunting belong to?
The Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) belongs to the Emberizidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rock Bunting eat?
The Rock Bunting is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Rock Bunting migrate?
The Rock Bunting is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Rock 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 Rock Bunting make?
1 real field recording of the Rock 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 Rock Bunting's range?
The Rock Bunting has a mapped global range of about 4.4 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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