This species is primarily a winter visitor to Japan. Rustic Bunting is now listed as "vulnerable" by IUCN because of recent steep declines attributed to extensive trapping in China. This activity decimated the Yellow-breasted Bunting population which has declined by an estimated 95%. Similar recent steep declines have been noted in the Rustic Bunting.
The asymmetric dark bases to the tertials are diagnostic of Emberiza buntings. Although the rusty nape and rump are diagnostic, the pale spot at the rear of the ear coverts and white wing bars are characters useful in separating Rustic Bunting from Reed Bunting which has buffy wing bars in Fall and Winter. The rectrix tips are not strongly pointed suggesting this is an adult (AHY) bird. The black on the crown and ear coverts suggests this is a probably a winter plumage male. In females these areas are usually brown.
Two subspecies are recognized. Nominate E. r. rustica ranges across northern Eurasia east to Central Siberia. It is replaced by E. r. latifascia in the Russian Far East to Kamchatka. All Japanese specimens are attributed to latifascia which has a blacker crown and broader ventral streaks but differences are slight and the two subspecies probably not distinguishable in winter plumage.