Yellow-breasted Bunting

Emberiza aureola

Very rare migrants from NE Europe & fast declining with 250 records between September-October in Britain.

Breeds in Siberian Russia, Finland & Northern Asia.

They are a declining species, due to the trapping in their wintering grounds of China & South East Asia.

Breeding Males have bright white underparts with black flank streaks, brown upperparts, black face and throat bar, and a pink lower mandible.

Female have a heavily streaked grey-brown back, and less intensely yellow underparts.

Also has a whitish face with dark crown, eye and cheek stripes.

Juveniles are similar, but the background colour of the underparts and face is buff.