BirdForum is the net's largest birding community, dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE! You are most welcome to register for an account, which allows you to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
[[Image:Rock_Bunting.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Dave+Hawkins|Dave Hawkins}}<br />[[Spain]]]]
-
[[Image:Rock_Bunting.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by Dave Hawkins]]
+
;[[:Category:Emberiza|Emberiza]] cia
==Identification==
==Identification==
-
A typical view of a Rock Bunting is often of a small bird with reddish-brown upperparts and striking white-outer tail feathers, rising from the edge of the road as you drive through a mountainous area. A better view will show that this is the only European bunting with a stripey grey-and-black head pattern, much more obvious on the adult males but visible too on females and first winter birds.<p><b>Range etc:</b>Breeds throughout Iberia except on Mediterranean coast, southern France in the Massif Central and Alps, north in Germany along the Rhine and east into Austria. In Italy breeds in the Apennines and in northern Sicily and also breeds from Slovenia to Greece and east to Romania and Bulgaria and in the Carpathians in Slovakia and north & central Hungary. Breeds across much of Turkey to the Caucasus and southern Crimea, in the Middle East south to northern Israel. In North Africa breeds from central Morocco to north Tunisia.
'''Female''' and '''Juvenile''': duller with streaked crown, breast and flanks
+
==Distribution==
+
'''Breeds''' throughout [[Iberia]] except on Mediterranean coast, southern [[France]] in the Massif Central and Alps of [[Switzerland]], north in [[Germany]] along the Rhine and east into [[Austria]]. In [[Italy]] breeds in the Apennines and in northern [[Sicily]] and also breeds from [[Slovenia]] to [[Greece]] and east to [[Romania]] and [[Bulgaria]] and in the Carpathians in [[Slovakia]] and north & central [[Hungary]]. Breeds across much of [[Turkey]] to the Caucasus and southern [[Crimea]], in the [[Middle East]] south to northern [[Israel]]. In North [[Africa]] breeds from central [[Morocco]] to north [[Tunisia]].
-
Northern birds may be partially migratory but most are resident or altitudinal migrants. Rare winter visitor to Iraq.
+
Northern birds may be partially migratory but most are resident or altitudinal migrants. Rare winter visitor to [[Iraq]].
-
Vagrants recorded north to Britain, Sweden, Poland and Germany, also Malta, Cyprus, Libya and Kuwait.
+
'''Vagrants''' recorded north to [[Britain]], [[Sweden]], [[Poland]] and [[Germany]], also [[Malta]], [[Cyprus]], [[Libya]] and [[Kuwait]].
-
+
==Taxonomy==
-
Subspecies Nominate cia is found over most of range with slightly larger and paler par in Crimea and Caucasus, more heavily streaked with buff rump. Various other races have been described but differences are very slight.
+
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
-
+
*''E. c. cia'':
-
Habitat Dry rocky hillsides with sparse vegetation, sometimes vineyards and olive groves, juniper scrub and subalpine meadows. Often at fairly high altitude and reaches 4000m in parts of range, usually under 1500m in Europe.
+
:*Iberian Peninsula and southern [[Europe]] to western [[Asia Minor]] and Northern [[Africa]]
-
==Bird Song==
+
*''E. c. hordei'':
+
:*[[Greece]], central [[Asia Minor]] and Levant
+
*''E. c. prageri'': larger, paler and more heavily streaked with a buff rump than nominate
+
:*[[Crimea]], [[Caucasus]], north-eastern [[Turkey]] and north-western [[Iran]]
+
*''E. c. par'':
+
:*North and central [[Iran]] to [[Pakistan]], north-western [[India]] and southern Altai Mountains
+
==Habitat==
+
Dry rocky hillsides with sparse vegetation, sometimes vineyards and olive groves, juniper scrub and subalpine meadows, crags and ruins. Often at fairly high altitude and reaches 4000m in parts of range, usually under 1500m in Europe.
+
==Behaviour==
+
Flicks tail open when on the ground feeding.
+
====Breeding====
+
They nest on, or near, the ground.
+
====Vocalisation====
+
'''Call''': includes weak ''zeet'' and thin ''seee''.
<flashmp3>Emberiza cia (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
<flashmp3>Emberiza cia (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
''[[Media:Emberiza cia (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
''[[Media:Emberiza cia (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
+
==References==
+
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
+
#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
+
{{ref}}
==External Links==
==External Links==
-
*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?si=Emberiza+cia&perpage=12&sort=4&cat=all&ppuser=&friendemail=email@yourfriend.com&password=&x=17&y=5 View more images of Rock Bunting in the gallery]
15.5cm
Grey bill
Longish thin tail Male: Reddish-brown upperparts, white-outer tail feathers, stripey grey-and-black head pattern. Female and Juvenile: duller with streaked crown, breast and flanks
Dry rocky hillsides with sparse vegetation, sometimes vineyards and olive groves, juniper scrub and subalpine meadows, crags and ruins. Often at fairly high altitude and reaches 4000m in parts of range, usually under 1500m in Europe.
Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
Welcome to BirdForum.
