Pine Bunting

Pine Bunting (Emberiza leucocephalos ) ( female)

The Pine Bunting (Emberiza leucocephalos ) is a species of bird in the bunting family ( Emberizidae ), the east of the Ural Mountains located in large parts of Asia and is found in Europe beyond the Urals only as Irrgast.

Features

The Pine Bunting is the eastern (Asian ) sister species of the Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella ). It is like the Yellowhammer about 15-18 cm long and has the typical shape of a Ammer. Her drawing largely corresponds to the Yellowhammer, however, it should be noted that females and young birds have a white belly, a grayish face drawing and a more chestnut coloring on the shoulders and Bauchstricheln than the Yellowhammer. It is also found in the Pine Bunting a narrow white eye ring, which usually is yellowish or beige with gold buntings. Only in males in breeding plumage, the distinction is simply because they have a typical maroon and white head markings. Since the Pine Bunting is closely related to the Yellowhammer, there may be hybrids that possess a bewildering combination of features of both types.

Voice

The voice of the Pine Bunting corresponds approximately to the yellowhammer, Reputation as a " tsipp " expressed. The song is like the yellowhammer of 5-8 short, juxtaposed tones that sound out slightly stretched to the end.

Distribution and habitat

The Pine Bunting is native to much of Asia east of the Urals. In Europe, it is occasionally detected as Irrgast, so it was, for example in Austria 1810-2010 12 secure evidence. The species is sighted in Europe almost only in autumn and winter, when birds (mostly young) fly to the west. These birds are almost always close wintry Goldammer squads and are hard to distinguish in such jurisdictions of young yellowhammer.

In the Pine Bunting is a migratory bird, wintering areas of the species are in Central and Southeast Asia, locally also in Iraq, Iran and Israel.

The Pine Bunting lives in similar habitats as the Yellowhammer, ie to Gentiles, fields and clearings. It is, however, bound to a much greater degree of proximity of woodland. In winter, they also like to visit Vogelhäuder and wildlife feeding sites.

Nutrition

Like most sparrows, the Pine Bunting feeds largely on seeds, grains and plant parts, only for rearing and animal food (small invertebrates) is caught.

Stock

Information on the size of the world stock does not exist. Due to the large distribution area and presumably stable portfolio, the Pine Bunting by IUCN currently as uncritical ( "Least Concern" ) substance.