Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Chestnut Bunting (Emberiza rutila) - HBW 16, p. 529

French: Bruant roux German: Rötelammer Spanish: Escribano Herrumbroso
Other common names: Ruddy Bunting

Taxonomy: Emberiza rutila Pallas, 1776, Onon River and towards the Mongolian border.
Sometimes placed in a separate genus, Ocyris. Recent phylogenetic study suggests that this species is closely related to E. pusilla, E. rustica, E. aureola, E. sulphurata and E. spodocephala, forming a subclade with them; it has been suggested that they form a polytomous group of species, probably the result of a rapid, “simultaneous” radiation. Proposed race pamirensis (described from Trans-Alai Range, in Pamir Mts) considered invalid, as based probably on vagrant birds. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds in C & E Siberia from Krasnoyarsk (N possibly to Podkamennaya Tunguska) E to S coast of Sea of Okhotsk, and S to L Baikal and Chita regions and NE China (Khingan Mts, in N Heilongjiang); probably also regularly in NE Mongolia (Khentii) and in Russian Far East (Sikhote Alin Range, in Ussuriland). Winters in Myanmar, S China, W Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.