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Photo by alibenn
Location: Lijiang, Yunnan, China

Emberiza pusilla

[edit] Identification

Rufous cheeks, black head and face markings, white eye-ring, narrow grey bill, and two distinct greyish wing bars.

[edit] Distribution

Common breeder over much of Siberia but rare in extreme west of range in the Western Palearctic. Breeds in the extreme north of Norway and Sweden and in Finland mainly in eastern Lapland, also on the Kola Peninsula and in northern Russia from the White Sea eastwards north of about 60N.

Leaves breeding areas in late August-September to winter from Nepal to southern and eastern China, returning May-early June. Regular in small numbers in Western Europe and annual in Britain with 10-30 recorded most years, although more than 50 have occurred with the majority in autumn. Wintering has occurred. Most records come from the Northern Isles with smaller numbers on the east coast.

'Vagrant to most European countries north to Iceland and west to Portugal, the Canary Islands and Morocco, also recorded in Sardinia, Hungary, Turkey, the Middle East and Egypt.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Breeds in shrubby wet tundra and open forest, usually in birch, willow or alder.

On passage found along woodland edges and riverbanks, open cultivation, stubble fields and sometimes reedbeds.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] External Links