Pine bunting facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pine bunting
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification

The pine bunting (Emberiza leucocephalos) is a small passerine bird in the bunting family. This family is now seen as different from finches. Pine buntings live in parts of Europe and Asia, mainly east of the Urals.

What's in a Name? (Etymology)

The first part of the pine bunting's scientific name, Emberiza, comes from an old German word for a bunting. The second part, leucocephalos, comes from Ancient Greek. Leukos means "white" and kephalos means "headed". So, its name means "white-headed bunting", which describes the male bird well!

Appearance and Song

Pine buntings are sturdy birds, about 16 to 17.5 centimeters long. They have a thick bill that helps them eat seeds.

Male Pine Bunting

Male pine buntings are quite striking. They have a white top of the head and white cheeks. Their forehead and throat are a rich chestnut color. Their back is brown with many streaks.

Female Pine Bunting

Female pine buntings are not as brightly colored as the males. They are usually duller and have more streaks on their bellies.

Seasonal Changes and Sounds

When they are not breeding, pine buntings look similar to a yellowhammer. However, any yellow colors on a yellowhammer are white on a pine bunting. Their song and calls sound a lot like those of the yellowhammer.

Where They Live and Breed (Habitat and Reproduction)

Pine buntings breed across much of temperate Asia. When winter comes, they migrate south. They travel to central Asia, northern India, and southern China.

Preferred Homes

These birds are common in many open areas. They like places with some bushes or trees, including farms. They especially prefer open forests, often with pine trees. This is different from their close relatives, the yellowhammers.

Traveling Birds

Sometimes, a pine bunting might wander far from its usual home. They are rarely seen in western Europe. However, they often spend the winter in north-east Italy and Tuscany.

Pine Bunting and Yellowhammer Hybrids

Sometimes, a pine bunting and a yellowhammer can have babies together. These babies are called hybrids. They show a mix of features from both parents. For example, a bird seen in Suffolk, England, in 1982 was a famous hybrid. It was even called the "Sizewell bunting" and featured in a bird magazine.

What They Eat (Diet)

Pine buntings mainly eat seeds. When they have young birds, they also eat insects to feed their babies.

Nesting Habits

These birds build their nests on the ground. A female pine bunting usually lays four to six eggs. These eggs often have thin, hair-like markings, which are common for bunting eggs.

Gallery

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  Yellowhammer (left) and pine bunting (right)

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  Female pine bunting

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  Eggs of pine bunting MHNT