Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/10821818@N07/ / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Somali Bunting
Emberiza poliopleura
Somali Bunting (Emberiza poliopleura) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Somali Bunting (Emberiza poliopleura) is a member of the Emberizidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 15.8 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 poliopleura
Where it lives
Northeastern Africa semiarid scrub: central Ethiopia and Somalia (except northeastern) south through far southeastern South Sudan to northern Tanzania
Quick facts
- Weight
- 15.8 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Emberizidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Somali Bunting is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Somali Bunting is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Somali Bunting (Emberiza poliopleura) is a species of bird in the Emberizidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF ne Africa semiarid scrub: c Ethiopia and Somalia (except ne) s through far se South Sudan to n Tanzania.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 15.8 g, with a wing length of about 7.4 cm and a tail of around 6.7 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 1.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Somali Bunting?
The Somali Bunting is a small bird that weighs around 15.8 g.
Where does the Somali Bunting live?
The Somali Bunting is found across Africa with a range covering AF ne Africa semiarid scrub: c Ethiopia and Somalia (except ne) s through far se South Sudan to n Tanzania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Somali Bunting belong to?
The Somali Bunting (Emberiza poliopleura) belongs to the Emberizidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Somali Bunting eat?
The Somali Bunting is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Somali Bunting migrate?
The Somali Bunting is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Somali 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 Somali Bunting make?
1 real field recording of the Somali 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 Somali Bunting's range?
The Somali Bunting has a mapped global range of about 1.3 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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How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.