Rustic Bunting
Scientific Name: Emberiza rusticaMaltese Name: Durrajsa Qastnija
Family: Buntings (Emberizidae)
Occurence: Very Rare
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Rustic Bunting breeds across northern Europe and Asia. It is migratory, wintering in south east Asia, Japan, and eastern China. It is a rare wanderer to western Europe. It breeds in wet coniferous woodland. 4-6 eggs are laid in a nest in a bush or on the ground. Its natural food consists of insects when feeding young, and otherwise seeds. This bird is similar in size to a Reed Bunting. It has white underparts with reddish flank, pink legs and a pink lower mandible. The summer male has a black head with a white throat and supercilium and a reddish breast band. The female has a heavily streaked brown back and brown face with a whitish supercilium.
Status:
Very rare autumn migrant. 26 records of this rare Bunting.
When to See:
All records are in October and November, except for one record in March 1962.
Where to See:
The Majority of records are from Lunzjata Valley, Gozo.
Photographs:
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1st Year Rustic Bunting, 6th November 1988, Lunzjata Valley Gozo |
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1st Year Rustic Buntings, 9th November 1991, Lunzjata Valley Gozo |
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