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Buntings

Buntings, seed-eating passerines with conical bills, are represented by 45 species in the genus Emberiza, the sole member of the family Emberizidae. Once part of a larger family including New World sparrows and longspurs, taxonomic revisions now place these in separate families following molecular studies. Carl Linnaeus first introduced the genus in 1758, with the yellowhammer designated as the type species. Recent genetic research groups buntings closely with Calcariidae (longspurs and snow buntings). The genus has been subject to debate over splitting into multiple genera, but no consensus has been reached, and the genus remains intact. Buntings are divided into four clades, with some species' relationships yet to be determined. Notably, although some New World birds also carry the name "bunting," they fall under the family Cardinalidae. Emberiza buntings have diverse distributions across the Old World, ranging from African, Palearctic, and Asian regions, with some species also known to have become extinct in the Quaternary and Pliocene periods.

Regions

A photo of a Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) , male

Black-headed Bunting

Emberiza melanocephala

Cinereous Bunting

Emberiza cineracea
A photo of a Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) , male

Cirl Bunting

Emberiza cirlus
A photo of a Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)

Corn Bunting

Emberiza calandra
A photo of a Cretzschmar's Bunting (Emberiza caesia) , male

Cretzschmar's Bunting

Emberiza caesia

Grey-necked Bunting

Emberiza buchanani
A photo of a House Bunting (Emberiza sahari) , male

House Bunting

Emberiza sahari
A photo of a Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla)

Little Bunting

Emberiza pusilla
A photo of a Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana) , male

Ortolan Bunting

Emberiza hortulana
A photo of a Pine Bunting (Emberiza leucocephalos) , male

Pine Bunting

Emberiza leucocephalos

Red-headed Bunting

Emberiza bruniceps
A photo of a Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) , male

Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus
A photo of a Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia) , male

Rock Bunting

Emberiza cia
A photo of a Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica) , male

Rustic Bunting

Emberiza rustica

Striolated Bunting

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

Yellow-breasted Bunting

Emberiza aureola
A photo of a Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) , male

Yellowhammer

Emberiza citrinella
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