• The following pages have some identification markers for each of the Buntings found in

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Sno. Name Binomial Name 1 Black-faced Emberiza spodocephala 2 Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala 3 Emberiza rutila 4 Chestnut-eared Bunting Emberiza fucata 5 Emberiza schoeniclus 6 Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra 7 Crested Bunting Emberiza lathami 8 Grey-necked Bunting Emberiza buchanani 9 Emberiza pusilla 10 Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana 11 Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos 12 Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps 13 Rock Bunting Emberiza cia 14 Emberiza rustica 15 Striolated Bunting Emberiza striolata 16 White-capped Bunting Emberiza stewarti 17 Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola 18 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella

©www.ogaclicks.com Black-faced Bunting Identification Tips- E. s. sordida Black-faced Bunting: Emberiza spodocephala sordida : Resident of North East India Crown fringed chestnut in non- breeding Olive-grey head & Crown Dark lores Coverts ware brown with white tips ( wingbars) Upperparts are pale brown with black streaks Maxilla blackish with whitish-horn cutting edges, mandible pinkish Flight feathers are dark brown with pale edges with dark tip Tail dark brown, outer rectrices Olive-grey Chin & throat with extensive white Olive-grey breast

crown streaked dark chestnut

Pale Supercilium Rufous streaks on flanks

Pale submoustachial stripe Pale yellow Under parts from Belly to vent Darker coverts Pale throat Legs are pinkish brown Male

Pale underparts with streaks on breast

Difference from Breeding plumage

Female Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Important id point www.HBW.com Black-headed Bunting Identification Tips Black-headed Bunting : Emberiza melanocephala : Winter visitor to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Upper Karnataka & sporadic in North India Black head & Crown Head feathers have sandy fringes Black lores

Yellow neck Bill is lead-blue, duskier on culmen Upperparts are reddish-brown to bright chestnut

Yellow Chin & throat Coverts ware black-brown with pale buffish edges Flight feathers are Yellow breast black-brown with pale Greyish crown streaked dark buffish edges Tail black-brown, outer pair Greyish-brown Supercilium Yellow Belly narrowly edged buff-brown Greyish-brown Ear-coverts

Greyish-brown neck Yellow vent Breast tinged Greyish-brown pinkish-buff coverts Legs are deep flesh-coloured

Pale underparts Male with yellowish wash Difference from Breeding plumage Reference : Birds of Indian Greyish-brown flight feathers Difference from male Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point ©www.ogaclicks.com Female www.HBW.com Chestnut Bunting Identification Tips Chestnut Bunting : Emberiza rutila : Winter visitor to North East India

Chestnut head & Crown Bill is brown/ bluish-horn/, paler bluish/dull pinkish-horn Upperparts are chestnut Chestnut on most of lower mandible colours Coverts are Chestnut concealed by pale fringes Flight feathers are Chestnut Chin ,throat brown with brown, & upper breast narrow pale edges Male –Non-breeding Yellow lower breast Tail brown, small Greyish crown with dark lateral stripe area of white at Yellow Belly tip of outer rectrices Brown postocular stripe

narrow brown moustachial stripe Brown malar stripe Buff submoustachial stripe Yellow vent Dusky streaking on Dark-streaked greyish-brown Upperparts Flanks Pale streaked breast Legs are deep flesh-coloured

Male Coverts with buffy Difference from Breeding plumage tips ( wingbars) Reference : Birds of Indian Difference from male Streaked flanks Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point ©www.ogaclicks.com Female www.HBW.com Chestnut-eared Bunting Identification Tips- E.f. arcuata Chestnut-eared Bunting : Emberiza fucata arcuata : Breeds in West Himalayas & Winter visitor to North East India Bill is blackish above, lower White eyering Dark-streaked grey crown mandible blue-grey to pale Chestnut Ear-coverts pinkish-horn

White Submoustachial stripe Black malar stripe Mantle is grey-brown White Chin & throat with black border with black streaking Black necklace bordered below by white breastband Rufous Scapulars Flight feathers chestnut band on side of lower breast blackish-brown, with brown fringes Brownish crown , streaked

Whitish Belly with warm orange-brown wash White vent

Dull chestnut Ear-coverts flanks with orange-brown wash streaked dark Tail black-brown Less prominent Pale upperparts necklace Legs are pinkish Male

Paler Underparts

Reference : Birds of Indian Difference from male Subcontinent Inskipp and ©www.ogaclicks.com Female Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Common Reed Bunting Identification Tips Common Reed Bunting : Emberiza schoeniclus : Winter visitor to North West India Blackish Crown Bill is small & blackish White sub moustachial stripe , culmen almost straight Non breeding Male is like Mantle is grey-brown Female , with a few differences with black streaking • Lower mandible blue-grey Black chin & • Nape grey-brown Scapulars blackish with rufous throat & upper • Breast and flanks tinged feather edges yellow-buff breast Coverts are blackish-brown White lower breast with rufous-brown tips Streaking on Flight feathers Grey-brown fringes on crown Breast sides blackish-brown, pale Buff supercilium buffish edges

Brown eye stripe Whitish Belly Tail black-brown Brown ear-coverts White vent Brown Moustachial stripe Brown malar line Flanks are white with streaked dark

White throat

Legs are pinkish Male

Difference from Breeding plumage Whiter Underparts Reference : Birds of Indian Difference from male Subcontinent Inskipp and ©www.ogaclicks.com Female Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Corn Bunting Identification Tips Corn Bunting : Emberiza calandra : Vagrant in India

Crown is grey-brown finely streaked darker

Pale yellowish, grey culmen ridge Ear-coverts are grey-brown, finely streaked darker

Whitish submoustachial stripe also finely Dark Malar line streaked White chin & throat Upperparts are grey-brown to warm brown with blackish streaking

Upperwing feathers dark brown, edged and Bold dusky streaks on Breast tipped buffy or whitish-grey

Whitish underparts Tail is brown, outermost tail feathers with indistinct whitish tips Legs are yellowish-pink to light brown

Both Sexes are similar

Streaked flanks Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Crested Bunting Identification Tips Crested Bunting : Emberiza lathami: Resident of Himalayan foothills ,hills of central India & North East India

Grey upper mandible, or wholly black in Paler black forehead Black elongated forecrown feathers non breeding plumage Bill is pink in breeding season Cheek & ear-coverts Glossy Black

Glossy black upperparts Glossy black Chin & throat

Glossy black breast Coverts are rusty rufous Glossy black belly Buffy-olive crown, shorter crest Flight feathers rusty- Pale buffy eyering rufous

Buffy-olive Upperparts

Male Tail bright rusty- Streaked rufous with black buffy olive tips breast Pale rufous on Wings

Black vent Paler Underparts Legs are light pinkish-brown to dark purplish-brown washed with cinnamon-buff Reference : Birds of Indian Difference from male Subcontinent Inskipp and ©www.ogaclicks.com Female Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Grey-necked Bunting Identification Tips Grey-necked Bunting : Emberiza buchanani : Winter visitor to Central & West in India

White eye ring Crown is Grey Bill is pale pink, Ear-coverts are grey yellowish or brownish-yellow Whitish submoustachial stripe Grey Malar line Upperparts are rufous-tinged grey-brown, finely White chin & throat streaked darker brown Coverts are rufous-cinnamon

Deep cinnamon Breast Upperwing feathers rufous-grey with darker feather centres and paler fringes;

Whitish underparts washed Tail is brown, outermost tail cinnamon feathers with indistinct whitish tips

Legs are pinkish-orange

Whitish flanks washed cinnamon Both Sexes are similar

In non breeding plumage & in female all colours subdued by whitish feather fringes and tips Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Little Bunting Identification Tips Little Bunting : Emberiza pusilla : Winter visitor to Himalayas & North East in India

Pale eye ring Crown is deep chestnut with very dark broad lateral crownstripe Bill is dark grey, cutting edges and base of lower Black eye stripe mandible pale pinkish-grey Ear-coverts are grey Buff spot at end of ear-coverts Buff submoustachial stripe Buffish chin Upperparts are greyish-buff, heavily streaked Whitish buff throat dark brown

Coverts are dark brown with narrow Whitish buff pale tips (wingbars) breast with streaks Tail is brown, outermost feather with white edge In non breeding plumage all colours subdued by paler feather fringes

• light red-brown lores and anterior supercilium White vent

• pale reddish-brown median Flight feathers dark brown with narrow pale crownstripe reddish-brownish edges

• yellow-brown ear-coverts Buffish white underparts Whitish buff flanks , streaked • broader pale feather fringes Legs are pinkish Both Sexes are similar • underparts buffier with diffuse streaking Difference from Breeding plumage Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Ortolan Bunting Identification Tips Ortolan Bunting : Emberiza hortulana : Vagrant in India Yellow eyering Greyish-olive Crown

Yellow neck Bill is pale pink Upperparts are dull brown, quite strongly Yellow Chin & throat streaked with black

Coverts ware brown with pale edges Greyish olive breast

Flight feathers are brown with black Dull crown with streaks fringes Tail blackish Rufous Belly

Dark Malar stripe Duller upper parts Rufous vent Breast Olive grey with diffuse streaking Legs are flesh-pink

Male Paler rufous underparts

Female Reference : Birds of Indian Difference from male Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point ©www.ogaclicks.com www.HBW.com Pine Bunting Identification Tips Pine Bunting : Emberiza leucocephalos : Winter visitor in UT of Jammu & Kashmir , Ladhak & Himachal Pradesh in in India Two black lateral crown stripes bordering white crown

Bill is blackish-grey on upper Brick-red supercilium mandible, lower mandible horn to grey-horn White ear-coverts with black borders

Brick red Chin & throat Upperparts are pale reddish-brown with darker brown stripes White band between throat and breast Median Coverts rufous-buff with whitish Brick-red breast with red spot fringes Greater Coverts with pale tips Breast Side is Brick-red washed white with red spots Reddish–brown Rump

Central crownstripe limited to rear crown Tail blackish

Brown ear-coverts White vent Buff sub Moustachial Stripe Flight feathers are brown with white to pinkish-buff edges

Dark Malar stripe Dark Moustachial Stripe Whitish Belly Flanks are Red-brick with a white wash and red spots Breast Whitish with Legs are fleshy-orange to fleshy-brown diffuse streaking

Male White underparts Reference : Birds of Indian Difference from male Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett Female Important id point ©www.ogaclicks.com www.HBW.com Red-headed Bunting Identification Tips Red-headed Bunting : Emberiza bruniceps : Passage migrant in Punjab, Rajasthan & Haryana, Winter visitor in Gujarat& Maharashtra in India in India Red-brown Crown

Yellow hindneck Bill is blue-grey, tinged pinkish at base

Upperparts are Olive-yellow with dark streaks Red-brown Chin & throat Coverts with buff fringes Red-brown breast Flight feathers are brown with buff fringes

Grey-brown crown with streaks Yellow Belly Yellow Rump

Tail blackish Streaked grey-brown upperparts Yellow vent

Legs are flesh-coloured

Male Dirty yellowish- white under parts Reference : Birds of Indian Difference from male Female Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point ©www.ogaclicks.com www.HBW.com Rock Bunting Identification Tips Rock Bunting : Emberiza cia : Resident in West Himalayas in India

Ashy-grey Crown with dark lateral crownstripe Bill is greyish, darker above and light Dark eye-stripe lead-grey below Ashy-grey Ear-coverts Ashy-grey Chin & throat Dark moustachial Upperparts are chestnut with broad black streaks Ashy-grey breast Coverts with buff/ buffish-white edges

Flight feathers are dark Rusty brown Belly brown pale outer edges

Paler Grey head more diffuse head pattern

Rusty brown vent Tail blackish

Male Paler grey throat & breast Legs are bright orange-flesh or reddish

Pale rusty brown underparts Reference : Birds of Indian Difference from male Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Female Important id point www.HBW.com Rustic Bunting Identification Tips Rustic Bunting : Emberiza rustica : Vagrant in India

Black crown with distinct white spot on rear centre Bill is dark grey, pinkish-grey base of lower mandible White supercilium

Black Ear-coverts with white spot at edge White submoustachial stripe Black Malar line Upperparts are reddish-brown with black streaks White Throat Coverts are dark brown with white tips Reddish breast band ( Wingbars) Flight feathers are dark Reddish streaking on breast sides brown pale outer edges

White Belly Tail dark brown

Non-breeding male similar to female White vent

Black areas of head mostly Reddish streaking on flanks concealed by brown feather fringes Male

Buff Supercilium Legs are pinkish-flesh

Buff-brown Ear-coverts with white spot at edge

Buff Submoustachial stripe Stronger Malar line Reference : Birds of Indian Difference from male Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Female Important id point www.HBW.com Striolated Bunting Identification Tips Striolated Bunting : Emberiza striolata: Resident in North West India Grey Crown streaked blackish White supercilium Bill is blackish above, lower mandible yellow, with dark tip Dark eye-stripe Grey cheek stripe Ashy-grey Submoustachial stripe Dark moustachial Whitish Chin & throat streaked blackish Upperparts are cinnamon-rufous Whitish breast , streaked blackish Coverts with buff/ buffish-white edges

Rusty brown Belly

sandy-brown head streaked darker Flight-feathers dark brown with cinnamon margins

Buff Supercilium Tail blackish

Pale rusty brown Rusty brown vent Upperparts

Pale rusty brown underparts Legs are pinkish-brown

Male Reference : Birds of Indian Difference from male Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Female Important id point www.HBW.com White-capped Bunting Identification Tips White-capped Bunting : Emberiza stewarti : Breeds in West Himalayas & Winter visitor to hills of North Central India Buffy grey Crown Non-breeding male similar to female Dark eye-stripe White cheek & ear-covert

Bill is dark grey Neck Buffy grey neck Black Chin & throat Upperparts are chestnut

Whitish breast Coverts with brown with paler edgings Tail dark with Chestnut band with white extensive white fringes below the breast

sandy-brown head streaked darker

Buff Supercilium

Grey-brown ear -coverts White throat Flight-feathers dark brown with cinnamon margins Pale Grey- brown upperparts White Underparts Male Breast streaked underparts Legs are greyish-pink

Streaked flanks

Reference : Birds of Indian Difference from male Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Female Important id point www.HBW.com Yellow-breasted Bunting Identification Tips Yellow-breasted Bunting : Emberiza aureola : Winter visitor in North East India Rufous-brown crown Upper mandible dark grey, cutting edges and lower mandible pink

Non-breeding male Black ear-coverts Black Chin similar to female Rufous-brown nape Yellow throat Red –brown breast band Upperparts are rufous-brown traces of pale fringes Sandy-brown head streaked darker

Buff Supercilium Coverts with buff/ buffish- white edges ( wing bars) Dark eye stripe Flight-feathers dark brown Brown ear-covert with cinnamon margins Buff Submoustachi Dark Moustachial Stripe al stripe Tail blackish

Pale brown underparts Buff yellow underparts White vent

Lemon yellow Belly Flanks with heavy blackish streaks Male Legs are pinkish /dull fleshy-brown Reference : Birds of Indian Difference from male Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett Female ©www.ogaclicks.com Important id point www.HBW.com Yellowhammer Identification Tips Yellowhammer : Emberiza citrinella : Winter visitor in Indian Himalayas Crown is broad black and olive lateral crownstripe Bill is blue-grey, slightly paler below Diffuse dark border around ear-coverts Yellow ear-covert Streaky dark malar stripe

Yellow throat Upperparts are warm-brown with Yellow breast streaked black blackish streaks

Olive chest band Flight-feathers warm brown with yellow margins

Male Tail blackish Broader olive on crown Yellow Supercilium Yellow Belly Yellow vent Dark eye stripe Flanks are yellow with blackish streaks Darker Malar Olive ear-covert Legs are flesh-brown stripe Non-breeding male features Dark Moustachial Stripe • More yellow on head with restricted streaks on supercilium • Narrow border around ear-coverts Darker throat • Breast more prominently rufous spots • Supercilium lemon-yellow behind eye, anteriorly more greenish-yellow Yellow • Malar stripe usually absent underparts • Upperparts more richly coloured heavily streaked

Reference : Birds of Indian Female Difference from male Subcontinent Inskipp and ©www.ogaclicks.com Important id point Grimmett www.HBW.com