Studies of less familiar 118. Rock Bunting and Rock Sparrow By P. A. D. Hollom Photographs by K. J, Car/son, R. G. Car/son, Arthur Gilpin and H. R. Lowes

(Plates 24-31)

THE ROCK BUNTING (Emberi^a da) is an extreme rarity in this country. The earliest record is of two netted by' -catchers in late October 1902 near Shoreham, Sussex, and these were followed by one seen at Faversham, Kent, in mid-February 1905; then, after an

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158 ROCK BUNTING AND ROCK SPARROW STUDIES interval of over fifty years without any report which can now be considered acceptable, one was recorded at Dale Fort, Pembrokeshire,. on 15th August 1958. The has also occurred as a vagrant in north France, Belgium, Holland and Heligoland, but the nearest breeding places are south and east France, Switzerland and south and west Germany. In the last country its range extends north down the Rhine valley to the neigh­ bourhood of Bonn, as well as in a few tributary valleys, especially that of the Moselle. It is also found throughout the Iberian peninsula, most of Italy, Greece, the Balkans and in the Carpathian mountains, where it extends west into Czechoslovakia and north Hungary; in north Africa from Morocco to Tunisia; and across Asia from Turkey through the Himalayas to eastern China and Mongolia. Vaurie (1959) lists ten races, and describes the bird as not migratory but to some extent a wanderer. In Germany, however, it is regarded by Niethammer (1957) as both a resident and a migrant with winter- quarters in north Africa; most of the German breeding birds leave in October or November and return in March or April. Similarly, in the Geneva area Geroudet (1954) finds that most are migratory, arriving in early or mid-March and probably continuing to do so into April; in autumn, after the second broods are on the wing in August, they tend to collect into parties but remain on the breeding grounds until the middle or end of October. Voous (i960) lists the species as both sedentary and migratory; the birds which inhabit mountains usually descend in winter to lower levels, while the most northerly populations winter in the southern parts of the breeding range. In west China the species extends above 17,500 feet in the subalpine shrub zone; in Europe, however, lower levels are certainly favoured, in Greece from 3,000 to 6,000 feet, in the Alps seldom ex­ ceeding 5,000 feet, and in Spain sometimes up to about 8,000 feet but for the most part appreciably lower and at times down almost to sea level. As its distribution in the Mediterranean area and south Europe in general would suggest, the Rock Bunting requires warmth and sun­ shine as well as rocks and bushes in its breeding localities, and at least in the northern part of its European range it seeks out warm dry southern or south-western slopes, with oak scrub or other bushy cover, hedges, or patches of young conifers. The slopes are often steep, with rocky outcrops, stony gullies or quarries, and the terrain must be relatively open with a certain amount of bare earth and low vegetation, though preferably a few scattered small trees. Such cultivation as small vineyards, terraced or with drystone walls and stony soil in hilly country, is also accepted. These conditions are best satis­ fied on the lower mountain slopes. In Spain, where so much of the

!59 BRITISH BIRDS countryside is denuded and impoverished, the bird is often found in such bare surroundings as on plate 25a where the nest on plates 24-26 was sited at about 5,000 feet among broom and rosemary (plate 26b). G&oudet, in the article already referred to, gives an excellent des­ cription of the country occupied in the French Alps by this attractive but unobtrusive bird, and his account of its breeding habits adds a good deal to the information recorded in The Handbook. In mid-May the area is shared with such birds as Bonelli's Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli), Garden Warbler (Sylvia boriri), Blackcap (S. atricapilld), Black­ bird (Tardus merula), Robin (Eritbacus rubecula), Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) and Linnet (Carduelis cannabind), with Black Kite (Mikus migrans) and Alpine Swift (Apus melba) overhead. Amongst so many calls and songs, it is not always easy to pick out those of the Rock Bunting at once. Finally, a thin and sharp tsi comes from somewhere in the bushes not far away but oat of sight. From time to time the discreet call is repeated, but the bird itself remains invisible until the observer eventually locates it, motionless and watchful, on the topmost shoot of a hazel. After another sharp call it flies off, showing clearly the white outer tail-featherSj to disappear in a quarry. This is a typical experience. Even where relatively numerous, the Rock Bunting appears only intermittently. Its cries confuse the watcher, and its unexpected departures, frequently to a considerable distance, mislead him. The only way to get on terms is to be as patient and discreet as the bird itself, keeping quiet and still for long periods. The following is a summary of the results of Geroudet's observa­ tions at eight nests. The female alone builds (the male was never seen with nesting material) and she also undertakes the whole of the incuba­ tion. When flushed from the eggs or young she often indulges in an injury-feigning display; in this she runs from the nest, spreading her wings occasionally, and appears to somersault over small rocks in her path. Incubation lasts 12-13 days. Both parents feed the brood, seeking food to a distance of about 150 yards, mainly in brushwood. They fly back fairly high and direct with the food, which includes caterpillars and small butterflies, but settle several yards from the nest and complete the journey on foot, climbing slowly over the stones. When leaving again, they fly direct from the nest. The young leave the nest when 10-13 days old, but are still unable to fly for another few days and during this time they hide on the ground, creeping and hopping among the stones and grass. At least sometimes, and perhaps generally, the species is double-brooded. Some of Geroudet's nests were hidden in dry vegetation or sheltered by an earth bank or a stone, and others were very open, placed on the ground, hardly screened by thin grasses and sometimes in the full glare of the sun; none was in thick undergrowth. 160 ROCK BUNTING AND ROCK SPARROW STUDIES On the other hand, the Spanish nest illustrated on plates 27 and 28 was one of two found at heights of three or four feet against the centre trunks of small evergreens five or six feet high. As is rather better shown on plate 24, the nest itself is fairly substantial, the exterior rather loosely built of large stalks of dry grasses, with an inner section of finer pieces more closely arranged, and the cup often lined with horse­ hair or fine rootlets. In this case the nest was practically on the ground at the base of a clump of rosemary. The song has been likened by many observers, including Jakobs (1959), to that of the Dunnock (Prunella moiularis). It is typically uttered from a bare spike at the top of an oak or other exposed tree- top perch, but also from a vineyard stake or a commanding wire. Geroudet gives the period as from early April to July or just into August, with some revival in October. Dandl (1959) in Hungary near Budapest has heard quiet winter song during mild, still weather in an area where breeding does not occur. In such winter quarters the species occupies habitats frequented by other buntings and finches, Pricam (1957) in the Geneva area mention­ ing Reed Buntings (E. schoeniclus) in particular and an occasional Cirl Bunting (E. cirlus), also Chaffinches {Fringilla coelebs) and Bramblings (F. mantifringilld). Voous recalls that in north Africa it is often found in large flocks with Cirl Buntings. European wintering flocks seldom appear to exceed a dozen or so birds; although they may feed with other , the Rock Buntings maintain contact with each other and separate as a group on taking flight. At this season the habitat may be a less wild one, of hedgerows, fields, copses, bushes and way­ side trees, but the birds remain unobtrusive and elusive. As both Pricam and Dandl have noted, they feed on the ground, always within reach of trees or bushes, and if undisturbed they remain quietly for hours in one place. As soon as something unusual occurs, however, one will fly to settle well up in a bush or tree and others will join it, calling their sharp ttQ-t%t note. Perched thus, their warm orange- brown plumage renders them relatively inconspicuous if a few dead leaves of, for example, oak, beech or chestnut remain on the branches. If further alarmed, they may suddenly swing up vertically into the air and fly a few hundred yards to disappear into cover, or may slip away to vanish more furtively but equally effectively through the branches. The Rock Bunting is one of the easiest European buntings to identify. The clean, clear-cut grey and black pattern of the head is well brought out in plates 24-28, but black-and-white photographs cannot convey the full contrast between the cold grey of the head and upper breast and the warmth of the rest of the plumage, which is huffish-orange below and black-streaked chestnut-brown above. The rump, showing on plate 27, is chestnut without streaks and the 161 BRITISH BIRDS dark tail has a white outer edge which is often conspicuous. The narrow whitish wing-bar shows well in plate 24. The two sexes are normally substantially similar, having the same basic head pattern, but the female is slightly duller with some dark spots or streaks on the breast and flanks; these can be seen in plates 24-26. Harrison (1957) has drawn attention to the fact that in addition to this male-like plumage, there is a quite distinct and predominantly brown form of female. Young birds closely resemble young Yellowhammers (E. citrinella), but have distinctive orange-buff under-parts. The illustrations this month also include two photographs of the Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronid), on plates 29 and 30, while plate 31 shows a breeding area in central Spain. The birds in this instance were nesting in company with Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) in holes in a river bank in pleasant fertile country, which is an unusual type of site and habitat. Colonies are generally found in warm, arid, hilly country, the birds usually nesting in broken, rocky terrain or in ruins, ancient buildings, castles, high bridges, but also in towns, old hollow trees, olive groves, and in wells in semi-desert. The colonies in the old fortifications of Carcassonne in south-west France and in the ruins of Baalbek in Lebanon may be quoted as noteworthy examples. The world range is similar to that of the Rock Bunting, extending from Madeira to Manchuria, but the Rock Sparrow does not breed in Germany, Switzerland or Austria (although formerly doing so when the summers were warmer and dryer), nor in the Carpathian mountains. It is relatively sedentary, but in winter may wander away from the vicinity of the nesting colony. The birds gather into flocks by late August and in winter sometimes feed in company with finches. Dresser (1871-1881), who recorded much information about this species, stated that during the autumn and winter its food consists of cereals of several sorts, seeds of wild plants and grasses, and berries of various kinds. During the spring and summer it feeds both itself and its young on insects, including caterpillars and small grasshoppers, later turning to garden fruit and especially cherries. It is more active in its movements on the ground than other sparrows, Niethammer (1937) adding that it does not hop like a { domestkus) or a Tree Sparrow (P. montanus), but runs like a pipit. In general habits it much resembles the House Sparrow', but it is scarcely as bold as that bird and is less addicted to human habitations and cultivated plains. The yellow throat patch is a very poor recognition feature at medium range, being often invisible even when looked for carefully under good lighting conditions. The large whitish spots at the end of the rather short tail, on the inner webs of the feathers, are much more helpful. They are not always as evident on a perched bird as might appear from 162 ROCK BUNTING AND ROCK SPARROW STUDIES plate 29, but they can show well enough on one which is flying away low, especially if its tail is fanned, and they are seen to advantage in one which is clinging at the entrance hole to its nest with its tail spread to give support. The head, however, provides what is probably the best visual guide to the bird's identity, with its broad pale superciliary stripe extending from the eye to the side of the nape. This super­ ciliary is set off by the dark side of the crown, but if the top of the head is visible an equally distinctive, broad, pale, central band can be seen running the length of the crown from forehead to nape, as in a female Brambling or a Lapland Bunting (Cakarius lapponicus) in winter. The pattern on the side of the head shows well in the photographs, where the edge of the pale crown-stripe can also just be detected. The general coloration of the bird is otherwise rather like that of a female House Sparrow, but the under-parts (including the flanks) are well streaked and the under tail-coverts are boldly barred with dull brown and whitish. This streaking and barring can be seen on plate 30. The sexes are indistinguishable; the young birds resemble their parents, but lack the yellow throat spot. Apart from plumage distinctions, the calls are diagnostic, the birds in a breeding colony persistently uttering a plaintive wee-eep or weel-eep, a communal chirping which is abruptly ended for intervals of silence. It can seem a more sibilant wee^-ee^ or wee^-ivee when the whee2iness of the sound is intensified by echoing out from a rock face. In flight I have rendered it chee-kep, more musical than any call of the House Sparrow. Debru (1958), who observed the Carcassonne colony in two seasons, records that pairs were formed and hunting for suitable nesting cavities in the second half of April. Display flights included gliding, climbing and parachute descents something after the manner of a Serin (Serinus canarius). Nest building was in progress in mid-May, and the young of the first broods flew between 25 th June and 5 th July. Second broods were reared in the same nests and flew in August, 40 days after the fledging of the first brood in two cases and 45 days in a third. Both parents fed the young. Dresser described the nest as a somewhat bulky and carelessly con­ structed affair of straw, grass bents, fine roots, wool, hair and bits of rag, lined with an abundance of feathers. It is built like that of a House Sparrow in holes in rocks, masonry, hollow trees or earth banks. Even abandoned House Martins' (Delkhon urbicd) nests are recorded as having been used. The eggs number four to seven, and cannot be distinguished with certainty from those of the House Sparrow.

REFERENCES DANDL, J. (1959): "Breeding of the Rock Bunting in Hungary and surrounding territories". Aquila, 65: 184-188. 163 BRITISH BIRDS DEBRU, H. (1958): "Remarques sui la biologte du Moineau soulcie Petronia p. petronia(L.)"'. Oiseau, 28: 112-122. DRESSER, H. E. (1871-1881): A. History of the Birds of Europe. London. GEROUDET, P. (1954): "Le Bruant fou au Saleve". Nos Oiseaux, 22: 145-156. HARRISON, J. M. (1951): "Exhibition of, and remarks upon dimorphism in the female of the Rock Bunting, Emberiza cia eia Linnaeus . . .". "Bull. B. O. C„ 71: 56-57- JAKOBS, B. (1959): "Zum Brutvorkommen und zur Brutbiologie der Zippammer {Emberiza cia cia L.) im Moscital". Orn. Mitt., 11: 121-125. NIETHAMMER, G. (1937): Handbucb der Deutschen Vogdkunde. Leipzig. PRICAM, R. (1957): "Hivemage de Bruants fous dans le pays de Geneve". Nos Oiseaux, 24: 160-163, VAURIE, C. (1959): The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna. London. Voous, K. H. (1960): Atlas of European Birds. London.

164 PLATE 24. Rock Bunting (Emberi%a cia) at nest, Spain, May 1961. The breast and head are grey with black bands over, through and below the eye; the undcr-parts are huffish-orange, and the back is chestnut streaked with black. The females are only slightly less well marked than the males (pages 158-162) {photo: Arthur Gilpin)

PLATES 25 and 26. Habitat and nest of Rock Bunting (Emberi%a cid), Spain, May-June 1961. Habitats vary from steep rocky ground in mountains to more gentle slopes with scattered bushes, and from several thousand feet down almost to sea-level in some places (page 159) (photos: H. R. Eowes, left, and Arthur Gilpin) PLATES 27 and 28. Rock Buntings (Emberi^a cia) at another nest, Spain, June 1961. Note the unstreaked chestnut rump. This nest was at a height of three or four feet, but many are among stones on the ground (page 160). Only the female incubates, but both feed the young {photos: K. J. Carlson, below, and R. G. Carlson)

PLATE 29. Rock Sparrow {Veironia petronia), Spain, May 1961. It resembles a female House Sparrow, but note the whitish spots at the end of the tail and the striped head-pattern: the broad pale superciliary is set off by the dark side to the crown and the dark patch behind the eye (pages 162-163) {photo: Arthur Gilpin) PLATE 30. Rock Sparrow {Petronia petronia), Spain, May 1961. This head-on view shows the streaked under-parts and the boldly barred under tail-coverts. The head-pattern is completed by an equally distinctive pale stripe running the length of the crown from forehead to nape. The sexes are identical {photo: H. R. Lowes) PLATE 31. Nest-site of Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia), Spain, May 1961. This colonial species usually breeds in holes in broken rocky country or deserted buildings, but some nest in hollow trees and here the birds were sharing a river bank with Bee-eaters in pleasant fertile country (page 162) {photo: Arthur Gilpin)