Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) - HBW 16, p. 530

French: Bruant mélanocéphale German: Kappenammer Spanish: Escribano Cabecinegro

Taxonomy: Emberiza melanocephala Scopoli, 1769, Carniola, Slovenia.
Forms a superspecies with E. bruniceps, and both sometimes placed in genus Granativora; recent phylogenetic study indicates that they are closely related to M. lathami. Hybridizes with E. bruniceps in area of Caspian Sea. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds in SE Europe from Italy and Balkans E to Black Sea coast, from E Ukraine (E of R Dnieper) and SW Russia E to NW Caspian region and S to N Caucasus region (absent from Greater Caucasus) and, in S, from Aegean islands and Turkey E to E Georgia, Azerbaijan and NE & SW Iran (in S locally E to Baluchistan) and S to Israel, W Jordan and N Iraq. Winters in W India.