Passeriformes / Emberizidae / Emberiza
Yellow-browed Bunting
Emberiza chrysophrys · 黄眉鹀
Introduction
A passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae. It breeds in eastern Siberia and is migratory, wintering in central and southern China. It is a very rare wanderer to western Europe. The species breeds in the taiga zone and lays four eggs in an arboreal nest.
Description
Smaller than a reed bunting but relatively large-headed. Upper parts are brown and heavily streaked; underparts are white with an orange hue on the flanks and fine dark streaks. The stout beak is pink. Breeding males have a black head with white crown and moustachial stripes, a white throat, and a bright yellow eyebrow stripe. Females and young birds have a weaker head pattern with brown instead of black.
Identification
Females and young can be confused with little buntings but always show some yellow in the eyebrow and at least a hint of a white stripe on the crown.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds in eastern Siberia in the taiga zone. Migratory, wintering in central and southern China. Very rare wanderer to western Europe.
Behavior & Ecology
In the wild, adults feed on seeds but provide insects to nestlings. Nests are arboreal, containing four eggs.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Emberizidae
- Genus
- Emberiza
Distribution
breeds taiga of central Siberia; winters in central and southeastern China
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
