Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) - HBW 16, p. 531

French: Bruant à tête rousse German: Braunkopfammer Spanish: Escribano Carirrojo

Taxonomy: Emberiza bruniceps J. F. Brandt, 1841, Turkmenistan.
Forms a superspecies with E. melanocephala, and both sometimes placed in genus Granativora; recent phylogenetic study indicates that they are closely related to M. lathami. Hybridizes with E. melanocephala in area of Caspian Sea. This species has sometimes been referred to by name E. icteria, but present name has priority. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds from the Volga–Ural interfluve (S from just N of Caspian Sea, c. 51° N) E through Kazakhstan to S Altai Mts, W Mongolia and NW China (Xinjiang), and S to NE Iran, Turkmenistan, NW & E Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Winters in India.