Cinnamon-breasted bunting

The cinnamon-breasted bunting (Emberiza tahapisi) or cinnamon-breasted rock-bunting, is a species of bird in the family Emberizidae.

Cinnamon-breasted bunting
At Pilanesberg National Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Genus: Emberiza
Species:
E. tahapisi
Binomial name
Emberiza tahapisi
Smith, 1836
Distribution of
cinnamon-breasted bunting
Synonyms

Fringillaria tahapisi

Taxonomy and systematics

Cinnamon-breasted buntings (Emberiza tahapisi) are also known as the cinnamon-breasted rock bunting or African rock bunting.[1] They are small passerines in the genus Emberiza, which consists of other Old World buntings.[2][3] There have been some discrepancies regarding the relation to other species and subspecies. Six subspecies of the cinnamon-breasted bunting have been recognized, including E. t. goslingi, E. t. septemstriata, E. t. arabica, E. t. insularis, E. t. tahapisi, and E. t. nivenorum.[1][2] However, recent mitochondrial analyses of African buntings suggest that the Gosling's bunting (Emberiza goslingi) should be treated as a separate species.[4] E. t. septemstriata is also believed to be a hybrid between the nominate species and Gosling's bunting.[1] Alternate scientific naming includes Fringillaria tahapisi.[3]

Description

They weigh between 11.6 and 21 grams with a length of 13-15 centimeters.[1] Although plumage differs between juveniles, males, and females,[1][3][5] cinnamon-breasted buntings can be identified by their striped head and cinnamon brown underparts.[5] Males have black and white stripes whereas the female stripes are less dark and browner in color.[1][5] The throat patch is uniformly black on males but smaller, grayish, and densely blotched on females.[5] Juveniles are similar to females but with buffier head stripes and a paler, browner throat.[1][5] After the breeding season, juveniles moult partially and adults moult completely so all primaries and secondaries are the same age.[5]

Cinnamon-breasted bunting songs are composed of short, high-pitched, rapid trills.[1][5] Males are known to have eight distinct songs with 40 discrete syllables.[6] Song similarity decreases with distance between local populations but all end with a characteristic final whistle syllable.[6] Individuals perform songs from elevated positions such as from trees, bushes, or rocks.[5][6]

Distribution and habitat

Having a very widespread distribution, cinnamon-breasted buntings are found across most of mainland sub-Saharan Africa[1][3][5][7] but avoiding deserts, equatorial forest, and the high altitudes of mountains.[4][5] They can be found in rocky, lightly wooded hillsides with sparse vegetation and bare soil but can sometimes be found in woodlands.[1][3][5][7] There is some degree of partial migration with certain populations moving north during the rainy season and south during the dry season as well as moving to lower elevations during winter.[1][7]

Behavior and ecology

Breeding time varies depending on the rainy season of the region.[5] In arid regions with light rainfall, the breeding season will occur throughout the rainy season but in regions with heavier rainfall, the breeding season occurs at the end of the rainy season.[5] They are monogamous but solitary nesters.[1] The nest is built from twigs and grass and typically placed on the ground in a shaded area.[1][5] Incubation and care for young is performed by both males and females.[1][5] Incubation lasts 12–14 days and offspring fledge 14–16 days post-hatch[5] but continue to feed in parental territory for three weeks.[1] The clutch size is 2-4 and the eggs are greenish- or bluish-white with dark brown or reddish-brown speckles.[5]

Cinnamon-breasted buntings are ground gleaners that primarily eat seeds but have also been known to eat insects, especially in captivity.[1][4] They will also sometimes jump to pull seeds.[1] Chicks are fed seeds and insects by parents.[1]

Feeding on grass seed in the Kruger N. P., South Africa

They are commonly spotted alone or in pairs but also flock in groups of 3–4, and even 6-8 but less frequently so.[1][7] However, migrating birds can be found in flocks of 40.[1] Tail flicks are a common behavior that defines Emberiza and is used while hopping on the ground to make them more conspicuous to mates and other birds.[8] Courtship behavior includes males chasing the female through the air,[1] males bringing nest materials to nest and making “nest shaping movements”,[9] and females quivering their wings while making a special repeating eep sound.[9] Aggressive behavior includes a head forward position with bill snapping or gaping, with bill snapping occurring more frequently when fear is stronger than aggression.[9] When fighting, special chaa, eee, and chu chatter sounds are made.[9] Fear responses include freezing and observing when the perceived threat level is low, fleeing, and making alarm calls. Higher intensity behavior includes mobbing.[10]


Relationship to humans

Cinnamon-breasted buntings may occasionally enter towns[5] and in some countries they are caught for cagebird trade but adapt well in captivity.[1]

Status

According to the IUCN, they are categorized as least concern.[11] However, their range has expanded since 1985 due to climate change and habitat fragmentation.[1]

References
  1. Hoyo, J. del., A. Elliott, D. A Christie. and D. Brewer. 2011. Handbook of the Birds of the World (Vol. 16). Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.
  2. Alström, Per, Urban Olsson, Fumin Leid, Hai-tao Wang, Wei Gao, and Per Sundberg. 2008. Phylogeny and classification of the Old World Emberizini (Aves, Passeriformes). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 47:960-973.
  3. Byers, C., U. Olsson and J. Curson. 1995. Sparrows and buntings. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.
  4. Olsson, Urban, Reuven Yosef and Per Alström. 2013. Assessment of species limits in African ‘brown buntings’ (Emberiza, Passeriformes) based on mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data. Ibis. 155: 534-543.
  5. Fry, C. H., S. Keith, M. Woodcock and I. Willis. 2004. The birds of Africa. London: Christopher Helm.
  6. Osiejuk, Tomasz S. 2011. The song of the Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Emberiza tahapisi, in the Bamenda Highlands (NW Cameroon). Journal of Ornithology. 152:651–659
  7. Harrison, J. A. 1997. The atlas of Southern African birds. Johannesburg: BirdLife South Africa
  8. Andrew, R. J. 1956. Intention Movements of Flight in Certain Passerines, and Their Use in Systematics. Behaviour. 10:179-204.
  9. Andrew, R. J. 1956. The Aggressive and Courtship Behaviour of Certain Emberizines. Behaviour. 10:255-308.
  10. Andrew, R. J. 1956. Fear responses in Emberiza spp. The British Journal of Animal Behaviour. 4:125-132.
  11. BirdLife International 2016. Emberiza tahapisi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T103767669A94690689. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103767669A94690689.en. Downloaded on 04 December 2019.
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