Emberiza spodocephala Pallas, 1776

Taxonomic Classification

The black-faced bunting, with the scientific name Emberiza spodocephala Pallas, 1776, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae. Most modern modern authors now separate this group from the finch family Fringillidae.

Etymology of Genus Name

The genus name Emberiza originates from the Old German word Embritz, meaning a bunting.

Etymology of Specific Epithet

The specific epithet spodocephala comes from Ancient Greek words spodos, meaning 'ashes', and kephalos, meaning 'headed'.

Breeding Range

This species breeds across southern Siberia extending to northern China.

Migratory Patterns

It is a migratory bird, wintering in north-east India, southern China, and northern south-east Asia. It is an extremely rare vagrant to western Europe.

Breeding Habitat

Black-faced buntings breed in dense undergrowth alongside streams and rivers in the taiga zone.

Reproduction

They build nests on the ground or in trees, and lay four or five eggs per clutch.

Diet

Their natural diet is made up of seeds, and they feed insects to their young.

Winter Habitat

During winter, they live near water in agricultural areas or other open, bushy habitats.

General Appearance Notes

The species' general appearance and terrestrial feeding habits resemble a dunnock that has the typical bill of a bunting.

Size

It is similar in size to a reed bunting, measuring around 16 cm in total length.

Breeding Male Head Coloration

Breeding males have a dark grey head, with a mix of yellow-green and black colouring between the bill and eye.

Breeding Male Upperparts

Their upperparts are brown and heavily marked with black streaks, which do not extend to the rump. The rump is brown, and the tail is also dark brown.

Breeding Male Underparts

Their underparts are yellowish white with fine dark brown streaks on the flanks.

Breeding Male Bill

Their stout bill is pink in colour.

Female and Juvenile Head Markings

Females and young birds have a less distinct head pattern, with olive-grey cheeks and a faint creamy white supercilium.

Female and Juvenile Underparts

Their underparts are creamy yellow and heavily streaked with dark brown.

Call Description

The call of the black-faced bunting sounds like tzii or tzee. It has a distinct 'metallic' quality, is very short, and is not classified as a full song.