Bunting in Tajikistan (2 Viewers)

[PhilSteiner]

I photographed this bunting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan yesterday. There were a lot of Yellowhammers around but the base color on this bird was much whiter. Am I correct in thinking this is a female Pine Bunting or is it something else entirely?

 

[aeshna5]

Perhaps Yellowhammer x Pine Bunting?

 

[Richard Prior]

I'm seeing some yellow tones in the plumage (head and primary edges) that make me wonder about a hybrid Yellowhammer x Pine Bunting.
Ah, I now see aeshna beat me to it!

 

[PhilSteiner]

Thanks! Doesn't look like either of the illustrated Yellowhammer x Pines in Birds of Central Asia, so perhaps it's a female hybrid?

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Thanks! Doesn't look like either of the illustrated Yellowhammer x Pines in Birds of Central Asia, so perhaps it's a female hybrid?

Hardly surprising Phil, hybrids are very variable in appearance so no field guide would be able to adequately cover the range of variation shown. Some examples to illustrate variation Hybrid (Yellowhammer x Pine Bunting) (Emberiza (citrinella x leucocephala)). Birds of European Russia. and https://ebird.org/species/x00823?siteLanguage=en_GB

The extensive rufous tones indicate male.

Grahame