Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Meadow Bunting

Emberiza cioides

The Meadow Bunting, or Siberian Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides), presents a charming sight with its rufous-brown plumage and dark streaks adorning the back. The male of the species boasts a striking head pattern, characterized by brown hues complemented by white eyebrows, a moustachial stripe, and throat, alongside grey flanks on the neck. Its outer tail-feathers flash white, while its legs are a subtle pinkish-brown. The female, though similar in appearance, is somewhat more subdued in coloration and has a less distinct head pattern.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the Meadow Bunting, look for the male's bold head pattern and the white accents on the outer tail-feathers. The female can be recognized by her paler and duller plumage, with a less pronounced head pattern. Both sexes measure between 15 to 16.5 cm in length, making them a small but noticeable presence in their preferred habitats.

Habitat

The Meadow Bunting is partial to dry, open environments. It thrives in a variety of settings, including scrublands, agricultural fields, grasslands, and open woodlands, where it can often be spotted perched or foraging.

Distribution

This species is indigenous to eastern Asia, with its breeding range extending across southern Siberia, northern and eastern China, eastern Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan. While generally sedentary, the northern populations exhibit some migratory behavior, moving southward to areas as far as southern China and Taiwan during certain seasons.

Behaviour

The Meadow Bunting is known for its monogamous pairings, with couples often returning to the same breeding grounds year after year. They construct their nests low in bushes or directly on the ground, creating a secure environment for their offspring.

Song & Calls

The male Meadow Bunting's song is a brief, yet spirited phrase typically delivered from a prominent perch. Its call consists of a series of up to four sharp notes, which can be heard echoing through its habitat.

Breeding

Breeding season sees the Meadow Bunting laying a clutch of three to five eggs. These eggs are incubated over a period of 11 days, and the fledglings take flight after an additional 11 days, marking the completion of their early development.

Conservation status

The Meadow Bunting is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This status reflects the bird's widespread distribution and stable population numbers, indicating that, for now, the species does not face any immediate threats to its survival.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Meadow Buntings on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Buntings

A photo of a Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola) , male

Yellow-breasted Bunting

Emberiza aureola
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Mike T
Sense of Community
A great app, which is continually being improved. What really comes through is the passion of those behind the app. The sense of community is brilliant, so much help and support provided to new and/or in experienced birders.
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
BCHphotography_
Such a great app!
I didn’t think I could enjoy birding more but this app makes it so much better. Some great features and a really great way to share your sightings with your friends or fellow birders nearby or around the world! ❤️
Marlster24
Very Wholesome App
Joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😄
Louise L
Easy to use and accurate
Love this app. It is easy to use and accurate, Their backup communication is really good. I noted a missing species. All through the process, I was kept informed about the progress in correcting the information. I now have the corrected, updated version. 😁 Thanks!
Madstherangers
A mordern game changer
Birda is an awesome app, its updated the world of birding to the modern day with a fun and easy to use app. It’s engaging and allows positive interaction with fellow bird lovers!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.