ID Keys: Male: Dark chestnut upperparts, black head, yellow below
with dark flank streaks, chestnut chest band
The
Yellow-breasted Bunting is normally found in eastern Europe and Asia, but it
has been found on very rare occasions in islands off the west coast of
Alaska. It is a poorly-understood species. At the start of the
21st century, they were considered a species of "Least Concern" by the IUCN,
with no indications of widespread population issues. Since then, it
has become apparent that the species is in very rapid decline and
populations were not as large as once believed. Since 2004 the species
has moved from "Least Concern" to "Vulnerable" to "Endangered", on the IUCN
watch list. While some of the decline has been attributed to habitat
loss, particularly in their wintering range in southeast Asia where land has
been converted to intensive agricultural use, the majority of the decline is
likely due to direct capture of the birds. In parts of southeast Asia,
Yellow-breasted Buntings and other songbirds are caught in large numbers in
mist nets, and sold as food.
Habitat
During the summer breeding season,
Yellow-breasted Buntings are found in marshes and wet meadows, particularly
those with tall herbaceous vegetation and scattered shrubs. They can
be found in a wider variety of habitats during migration and the winter
months, including grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural land.
Diet
Feeds heavily on seeds, but will also take
insects and other small invertebrates, particularly during the breeding
season.
Behavior
Most feeding is done on the ground or
low in vegetation.
Nesting
The nest is a cup made of grasses, lined
with finer grasses and animal hair. The nest is placed close to or on
the ground, such as in a shrub or on the ground in a tussock of vegetation.
The female lays between 3 and 5 eggs, and both parents help to incubate
them. Both parents help feed and tend the young, once the eggs hatch.
Song
A clear warble of distinct phrases.
Migration
Migratory. Yellow-breasted
Buntings breed in far eastern Europe (Finland, Belarus, Ukraine) and in
Russia, northern Japan, and Mongolia. Wintering birds are primarily
found in southern Asia.
Feeders
Will attend feeders for millet,
peanuts, and suet.
