The black-faced bunting is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae.
Region
East Asia and Siberia
Typical Environment
Breeds across temperate East Asia from the Ural foothills and Siberia through the Russian Far East to northeastern China, Korea, Sakhalin, and northern Japan (Hokkaido). In winter it moves south to eastern and southern China, southern Japan, Taiwan, and northern parts of Southeast Asia including northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar. Prefers damp thickets, riparian scrub, forest edges, overgrown clearings, and reed-fringed wetlands. Often keeps close to ground cover and uses dense shrubs and reeds for foraging and refuge.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The black-faced bunting is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches (Fringillidae). Breeding males show a striking dark face and throat that contrast with yellow underparts, while females are duller and heavily streaked. It skulks in dense vegetation and often goes unnoticed despite being fairly common. In winter it gathers in small flocks and frequents wet thickets and reedbeds.
Female
Emberiza spodocephala personata - MHNT
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, undulating flights between cover
Social Behavior
Generally solitary or in pairs during the breeding season; nests low in dense vegetation or on the ground in a concealed cup. Outside the breeding season it forms small to medium-sized flocks, often mixed with other seed-eating passerines. Males sing from low perches within thickets to defend territories.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Song is a short, simple series of clear, metallic notes or trills delivered from a low perch within cover. Calls include sharp tik or tzip contact notes and softer tseep sounds when moving through vegetation.
Plumage
Breeding male with olive-brown, streaked upperparts, a grayish crown and nape, and a contrasting black face and throat; underparts yellow with fine streaking on the flanks. Female and non-breeding birds are browner and more heavily streaked, lacking the solid black mask but showing a patterned face and dusky malar stripe. Two pale wing bars and a slightly notched tail are typical.
Diet
Feeds on small seeds and grains outside the breeding season, often gleaned from the ground and low vegetation. During breeding it takes more animal prey such as insects, larvae, spiders, and small invertebrates, which are important for nestlings. It will also pick buds and soft plant material when available.
Preferred Environment
Forages in damp scrub, reed margins, weedy field edges, and along streams and ditches. Frequently searches among leaf litter and at the base of shrubs, occasionally hopping up to take seeds from seed heads.
