Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata), male
Chestnut-eared Bunting, Male

Chestnut-eared Bunting

Emberiza fucata

The Chestnut-eared Bunting, Emberiza fucata, is a small passerine bird, measuring 15 to 16 cm in length. Its plumage is predominantly brown with dark streaks. The male is distinguished by a grey crown and nape, intricately streaked with dark lines, and a striking combination of chestnut ear-coverts and bands of black and chestnut across the breast. A rufous patch adorns the shoulders, and the rump shares this rufous hue. Females are similar but present a more subdued appearance with less pronounced head and breast patterns. First-winter birds are somewhat plainer, yet they retain the warm brown ear-coverts and a conspicuous eye ring.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the Chestnut-eared Bunting, look for the male's distinctive grey head with dark streaks and the chestnut coloration around the ears. The bands of black and chestnut across the breast are also key identifiers. Females and juveniles may require a closer look, as their features are less bold, but the warm tones and eye ring should aid in identification.

Habitat

This species favors scrublands, fields, and grasslands, where it can often be found during its breeding season.

Distribution

The Chestnut-eared Bunting breeds across a range from the Himalayas to southeastern Siberia, Korea, and northern Japan. In the winter, it migrates southward to regions including southern Japan, southern China, Taiwan, northeastern India, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia. It has been recorded as a vagrant in Kazakhstan and, notably, reached Fair Isle in Scotland in October 2004.

Behaviour

The Chestnut-eared Bunting is a migratory bird, with northern populations moving southward to escape the cold winters. Its breeding season varies by location, with May to August in India, May to July in Honshū, and June to August in Hokkaidō.

Song & Calls

The voice of the Chestnut-eared Bunting is reminiscent of the rustic bunting but is quieter in comparison. Its song is a rapid twittering sequence that starts with staccato notes, accelerates, and concludes with a distinctive two or three-note phrase. The call is an explosive "pzick."

Breeding

The nest of the Chestnut-eared Bunting is cup-shaped, constructed at ground level or within a low bush. Clutches typically consist of three to six eggs, with four being the most common number. These eggs are whitish with reddish-brown speckling and undergo an incubation period of 12 days.

Subspecies

There are three recognized subspecies of the Chestnut-eared Bunting. The nominate, E. f. fucata, is found in the northern part of the range. E. f. arcuata inhabits the Himalayas and parts of China and is characterized by darker plumage and broader breastbands. The third, E. f. kuatunensis, resides in southeast China and is distinguished by darker and more rufous upper parts and narrower breastbands.

Conservation status

The Chestnut-eared Bunting is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of widespread decline.

Chestnut-eared Bunting Sounds



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

Chestnut-eared Buntings on Birda

Sightings
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Hannah McCormick
Hannah McCormick
24 May 2025 - 4:06am
Japan

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
Abi.M
Awesome App
I really enjoy using this app! It is such a friendly community of bird-lovers who are happy to help if I need ID advice. It’s been great motivation to get outdoors and go birding more! 10/10 😍😍
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Alex J
Friendly and helps to identify birds
Great birding app, good for logging your sightings, also has nice species guide. I'm enjoying the social aspect more than I expected, everyone seems friendly and helps to identify unknown birds. Good mix of newbies and experienced users.
Patricia L
Very encouraging birding app
Easy to use, fun to see progress and encouraging to receive feedback from other users.
Anonymous
The best bird logging app
Birda is honestly the best bird logging app I have seen. I love all the features it has from being able to do a session and log all the birds you see in one sitting, to being able to connect with other birders from all over the globe!
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??
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.
Talli A
My favourite app
As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁
D3Nature
Great app for learning Birds
I’ve been using the app for a couple of months and love it....Someone said it’s like a real life Pokémon Go for birds. They’re not far off! It’s something that the family can do that gets you out and about. Well worth downloading no matter your age.
EandB17
Terrific App for Birders
Downloaded Birda around the time my interest in birding was sparked, and it has been a terrific app to help me (1) share my experience, (2) document my sightings, and (3) learn more about birds in general. That said, I also believe Birda is a fantastic app for birders of all experience levels. Great community!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.