Gray Bunting

Emberiza variabilis

Also known as:Japanese Grey Bunting

Explore this bird

Identification

17 cm (7") Rare. Strays to western Aleutians from Asia.

Male: all gray except for black cap and tail with black streaks on back. No white in tail.

Female: streaked brown back. Plain rusty brown rump; conspicuous in flight. No white in tail.

Details in the field

2 photos

Credit: Kevin Lin

Watch and learn

2 videos

Grey Bunting 1 FullHD JH1RNZ

Credit: JH1RNZ

クロジ 02　Grey Bunting 02　(Emberiza variabilis)

Credit: MeetAtThePond

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

1 rule

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the WINGS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Short · Medium · Long
What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northwestern Canada or United States

result:217-gray-bunting-female-or-immature:1:1 Source: 217 Gray Bunting (Female or Immature), row 1

1 rule

Rule 1 17 criteria confidence 1

What colour were the WINGS ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Short · Medium · Long
What colour was the SIDE ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What were the EYE markings if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Sparrow-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northwestern Canada or United States

result:216-gray-bunting-male:1:1 Source: 216 Gray Bunting (Male), row 1