Golden-breasted Bunting

The golden-breasted bunting, Emberiza flaviventris, is a small passerine bird, measuring 15–16 cm in length. It is adorned with a striking head pattern featuring a white crown, black lateral crown stripes, and a white supercilium. The ear coverts are white, bordered with black. Its underparts are a vibrant orange-yellow, transitioning to yellow at the throat and fading to whitish on the lower belly. The upperparts are a rich chestnut with a grey rump, while the wings are browner with two prominent white wing bars.

Identification Tips

Adult males are distinguished by their vivid head markings and underparts. Females may exhibit a buff tinge to the white head markings, with browner head stripes, and the back may have dark streaks. Juveniles are generally duller and paler compared to the females.

Habitat

The golden-breasted bunting inhabits a variety of open woodlands, including acacia steppe and savannah for the subspecies flavigaster. Other subspecies are found in a broader range of lightly wooded areas, including gardens.

Distribution

This species is widespread across Africa south of the Sahara, avoiding the equatorial forest belt. The nominate subspecies ranges from the Cape to southern South Sudan, while E. f. flavigaster is found across the Sahel in a discontinuous range. E. f. princeps is native to southern Angola and Namibia.

Behaviour

The golden-breasted bunting is typically observed alone, in pairs, or small groups. It is not particularly gregarious and often appears quite tame. This bird is predominantly resident, with some local movement noted.

Song & Calls

The call of the golden-breasted bunting is a nasal, ascending "zzhrr." Its song is variable but often includes a "weechee weechee weechee" sequence.

Breeding

An untidy cup nest is constructed by the golden-breasted bunting, lined with fine grass or hair, and placed low in a shrub or sapling. The clutch typically consists of two or three glossy white or cream eggs, adorned with black lines. Incubation lasts for 12–13 days, with fledging occurring after another 16–17 days.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists of seeds, insects, and spiders. The golden-breasted bunting feeds on the ground and tends to consume more animal prey when it has young to feed.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the golden-breasted bunting as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face a significant risk of extinction.