About Emberiza rutila Pallas, 1776
Emberiza rutila Pallas, 1776 is a fairly small bunting that measures 14 to 15 cm in length. It has a fairly short tail, with little to no white visible on the outer tail feathers. Breeding males have bright chestnut-brown upperparts and head; their breast and belly are yellow, with dark streaks along the sides. Non-breeding males have a similar appearance, but their plumage is duller, and the chestnut color is partially hidden by pale fringes on individual feathers. Females are mostly dull brown with dark streaks on the upperparts, while their underparts are mainly pale yellow. They have a dull chestnut rump and a buff-colored throat. This species produces a variable, high-pitched song, which is delivered from a low perch within a tree. Its call is a short zick, which is similar to the call of the little bunting. This species breeds in Siberia, northern Mongolia, and north-eastern China. It is a long-distance migrant, and spends the winter in southern China, south-east Asia, and north-east India. A number of records of this species exist from Europe, but some of these records are thought to correspond to individuals that escaped from captivity, rather than genuine wild vagrants. During the breeding season, Emberiza rutila inhabits open forest that has abundant ground cover and shrubs. Birds that are migrating or wintering can be found in farmland, scrub, and woodland edges.
