Meadow Bunting

The Meadow Bunting is a medium-sized bunting with a rich chestnut-brown back streaked with black, and a distinctively patterned head showing a grey crown and cheek bordered by black stripes above and below a pale supercilium and moustachial stripe. The underparts show a warm rufous-buff wash across the breast and flanks, fading to a paler belly.

It favors open, scrubby country and is often seen perched on low bushes, fence posts, or wires, singing its simple, rhythmic song, especially in spring, when males are highly vocal in defending breeding territories.

Key field marks

• Chestnut-brown back streaked with black
• Grey crown and cheek framed by bold black stripes
• Pale supercilium and moustachial stripe
• Rufous-buff wash on the breast and flanks

Similar species

• Chestnut-eared Bunting has a chestnut ear patch (not a grey cheek) and a heavily streaked breast with a distinct necklace.
• Black-faced Bunting lacks the chestnut back and rufous breast wash, showing an olive-grey head instead.

Habitat

Favors open scrub, grassy hillsides, farmland edges, and rocky or bushy slopes, generally avoiding dense forest.

Range

Widespread across a broad area of East Asia, including China, the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and parts of Mongolia and Russia.

Migration

Mostly resident or short-distance migrant, with some northern populations moving south for milder winters.

Behavior

Often perches in the open on low shrubs, fences, or wires, particularly while singing; forages mainly on or near the ground in open, scrubby habitat.

Voice

A simple, rhythmic, jangling song, along with a sharp "tsik" call note.

Feeding

Eats seeds for most of the year, switching to insects during the breeding season, especially when feeding young.

Nesting

Builds a cup nest on or near the ground, hidden in grass or low scrub; lays 4-5 pale eggs with darker markings.