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Emberizidae - Old World Buntings

There are around 44 species of birds in this family. They are found all over the world and live in a wide variety of habitats, including deserts, tundra, grasslands, wetlands, woodlands, agricultural lands, and suburban and urban areas.

The birds in this family are small to mid-size and have small, cone-shaped bills. Most species are brown, although some are more brightly colored. Males and females usually look alike, although males may be a little larger.

Most birds in this family mate with only one partner during the breeding season. Nests are usually placed in a tree, although some species make their nest on the ground or in a bush.

Most of the birds in this family are non-migratory. Most of their diet is made up of seeds, but many species also eat insects.

  • The red-headed bunting is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Red-Headed Bunting
    (Emberiza bruniceps)
    The red-headed bunting is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The gray-necked bunting is found in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Gray-Necked Bunting
    (Emberiza buchanani)
    The gray-necked bunting is found in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Cretzschmar's bunting is found in Albania, Chad, Cyprus, Egypt, Eritrea, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, and Türkiye. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Cretzschmar's Bunting
    (Emberiza caesia)
    Cretzschmar's bunting is found in Albania, Chad, Cyprus, Egypt, Eritrea, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, and Türkiye. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Cape bunting is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Cape Bunting
    (Emberiza capensis)
    The Cape bunting is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The yellow-browed bunting is found in China, Japan, North and South Korea, Mongolia, Russia, and Taiwan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Yellow-Browed Bunting
    (Emberiza chrysophrys)
    The yellow-browed bunting is found in China, Japan, North and South Korea, Mongolia, Russia, and Taiwan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The rock bunting is found in southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Rock Bunting
    (Emberiza cia)
    The rock bunting is found in southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The cinereous bunting is found in Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Eritrea, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Cinereous Bunting
    (Emberiza cineracea)
    The cinereous bunting is found in Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Eritrea, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The meadow bunting is found in China, Japan, Kazakhstan, North and South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Russia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Meadow Bunting
    (Emberiza cioides)
    The meadow bunting is found in China, Japan, Kazakhstan, North and South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Russia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Cirl bunting is found in Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Cirl Bunting
    (Emberiza cirlus)
    The Cirl bunting is found in Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The yellowhammer is found in Europe and Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Yellowhammer
    (Emberiza citrinella)
    The yellowhammer is found in Europe and Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The yellow-throated bunting is found in China, Japan, North and South Korea, Myanmar, Russia, and Taiwan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Yellow-Throated Bunting
    (Emberiza elegans)
    The yellow-throated bunting is found in China, Japan, North and South Korea, Myanmar, Russia, and Taiwan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The African golden-breasted bunting is found in cental and southern Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    African Golden-Breasted Bunting
    (Emberiza flaviventris)
    The African golden-breasted bunting is found in cental and southern Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The chestnut-eared bunting is found in China, India, Japan, North and South Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Chestnut-Eared Bunting
    (Emberiza fucata)
    The chestnut-eared bunting is found in China, India, Japan, North and South Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Ortolan bunting is found across much of Europe into western Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Ortolan Bunting
    (Emberiza hortulana)
    The Ortolan bunting is found across much of Europe into western Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The pine bunting is found in Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Pine Bunting
    (Emberiza leucocephalos)
    The pine bunting is found in Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The black-headed bunting is found in southeastern Europe and the Middle East. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Black-Headed Bunting
    (Emberiza melanocephala)
    The black-headed bunting is found in southeastern Europe and the Middle East. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Pallas's bunting is found in China, Japan, Kazakhstan, North and South Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, Russia, and Taiwan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Pallas's Bunting
    (Emberiza pallasi)
    The Pallas's bunting is found in China, Japan, Kazakhstan, North and South Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, Russia, and Taiwan. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Somali golden-breasted bunting is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Somali Golden-Breasted Bunting
    (Emberiza poliopleura)
    The Somali golden-breasted bunting is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The little bunting is found across northern Europe and Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Little Bunting
    (Emberiza pusilla)
    The little bunting is found across northern Europe and Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The rustic bunting is found in China, Estonia, Finland, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, North and South Korea, Latvia, Mongolia, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Rustic Bunting
    (Emberiza rustica)
    The rustic bunting is found in China, Estonia, Finland, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, North and South Korea, Latvia, Mongolia, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The reed bunting is found in Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Reed Bunting
    (Emberiza schoeniclus)
    The reed bunting is found in Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The black-faced bunting is found in China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, North and South Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Black-Faced Bunting
    (Emberiza spodocephala)
    The black-faced bunting is found in China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, North and South Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The cinnamon-breasted bunting is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Cinnamon-Breasted Bunting
    (Emberiza tahapisi)
    The cinnamon-breasted bunting is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Tristram's bunting is found in China, Japan, North and South Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Tristram's Bunting
    (Emberiza tristrami)
    Tristram's bunting is found in China, Japan, North and South Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The gray bunting is found in China, Japan, South Korea, and Russia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Gray Bunting
    (Emberiza variabilis)
    The gray bunting is found in China, Japan, South Korea, and Russia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The ochre-rumped bunting is also known as the Japanese bunting. It is found in China, Japan, North and South Korea, Mongolia, Russia. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Ochre-Rumped Bunting
    (Emberiza yessoensis)
    The ochre-rumped bunting is also known as the Japanese bunting. It is found in China, Japan, North and South Korea, Mongolia, Russia. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The crested bunting is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Crested Bunting
    (Emberiza lathami)
    The crested bunting is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The corn bunting is found in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Corn Bunting
    (Emberiza calandra)
    The corn bunting is found in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Did You Know?

Cinnamon-Breasted Bunting
The cinnamon-breasted bunting is one of the birds found in this family.

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

No animals found.

Other Species Around the World

Painted Bunting - Passerina cirisLeast ConcernNorth/Central America

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