Photo © by Alok Tewari
Malli Mirai, Dwarahat, Alt. 4300 ft., Dist. Almora, Uttarakhand Himalayas, India, April-2017
- Emberiza lathami
Melophus lathami
Identification
16 cm (6¼ in)
- Mainly black
- Erect black crest
- Chestnut wings and tail
- Dark iris
Distribution
Asia: found in China, Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Eastern and Western Himalayas, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Hong Kong
Southeast Asia: Indochina, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Subspecies subcristatus is generally considered invalid[2].
Formerly placed in its own genus Melophus.
Habitat
Rocky areas and scrubland, grassy hillsides and terraced cultivation. Open, thorny forests and forest edges.
Observed at heights around 3000-3500 ft.
Behaviour
Diet
Their diet consists mainly of grass and weed seeds, including spilt grain. They have also been seen flycatching.
Vocalisation
Recording © by Alok Tewari
Malli Mirai, Dwarahat, Alt. 4300 ft., Dist. Almora, Uttarakhand Himalayas, India, April-2017
Male singing close to Sunset time. There was another male in the vicinity, as well, and they were engaged in territorial activity.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2017)
- Wikipedia
- Haryana Online
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Crested Bunting. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Crested_Bunting
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
