Emberiza fucata Pallas, 1776

Body Size

This species, Emberiza fucata Pallas, 1776, measures 15 to 16 cm in overall length.

General Plumage

Its plumage is mostly brown with dark streaks.

Breeding Male Plumage

Breeding males have a grey, dark-streaked crown and nape, chestnut ear-coverts, and alternating black and chestnut bands across the breast. Males also have a rufous patch on the shoulders and rufous rump.

Female Plumage

Females resemble males but are duller, with less distinct head and breast patterning.

First-winter Plumage

First-winter individuals have plainer plumage, warm brown ear-coverts, and a clear ring around the eye.

Vocalization Comparison

This species' voice is similar to that of the rustic bunting, but quieter.

Song Characteristics

Its song is rapid twittering that opens with staccato notes, accelerates, and ends with a distinctive two or three note phrase.

Call Characteristics

Its call is an explosive pzick.

Breeding Range

The breeding range of Emberiza fucata stretches locally from the Himalayas across China to southeastern Siberia, Korea, and northern Japan.

Non-breeding Range

Northern populations migrate south to overwinter in southern Japan, southern China, Taiwan, northeastern India, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia.

Vagrant Records

The species occurs as a vagrant in Kazakhstan, and the first recorded European sighting was in October 2004 at Fair Isle, Scotland.

Habitat Preference

This species prefers to live in scrub, fields, and grassland.

Nest Structure

It builds a cup-shaped nest at ground level or low within a bush.

Clutch Size

Clutches contain three to six eggs, with four being the most common.

Egg Characteristics and Incubation

Eggs are whitish with reddish-brown speckling, and are incubated for 12 days.

Breeding Season Timing

The breeding season varies by location: it runs from May to August in India, May to July in Honshū, and June to August in Hokkaidō.