Grey-necked Bunting

The Grey-necked Bunting, Emberiza buchanani, presents a subtle elegance with its greyish upperparts and a long, delicate pink bill. The male is particularly striking with a white eye-ring that contrasts sharply against its grey hood. Below, the bird is adorned with a soft pinkish-brown, while the chin and throat boast a paler hue, framed by grey malar stripes. Females, though less vivid, have a more pronounced moustachial stripe, and both sexes feature outer tail feathers with a hint of white.

Identification Tips

To identify this species, look for the distinctive white eye-ring in males and the moustachial stripe in females. The bird's long pink bill is also a key feature, along with the greyish tones of the upperparts and the pinkish-brown underparts.

Habitat

The Grey-necked Bunting favors dry, open landscapes, often favoring stony hillsides adorned with sparse thorn scrub. It is a bird of temperate grasslands, typically found below elevations of 7,000 feet.

Distribution

The Grey-necked Bunting breeds from the Caspian Sea to the Altai Mountains in Central Asia and winters in Southern Asia. It is a rare vagrant to the north of its range, with occasional sightings in Europe. Its wintering grounds extend to parts of Africa, West Asia, and South Asia, reaching as far south as Sri Lanka.

Behaviour

This species is often observed in small flocks. During migration, males and females may travel separately.

Song & Calls

In winter, the Grey-necked Bunting emits a subdued click note. Its song, however, is a metallic jingle composed of "swee-swee" notes that culminate in a "dzwe-ee-dul" sound.

Breeding

The Grey-necked Bunting nests on the ground, taking advantage of the shelter provided by overhanging vegetation. The nest is a simple construction, lined with grass and hair for comfort.

Similar Species

The Grey-necked Bunting can be confused with the Ortolan Bunting, especially in non-breeding plumage. Careful observation of the eye-ring and bill color can help differentiate the two.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Grey-necked Bunting as Least Concern, indicating that, currently, there are no immediate threats to its population numbers.