Little Bunting
Credit: PeiWen Chang

North American field guide

Little Bunting

Emberiza pusilla

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Identification

Field notes

12 cm (5") Rare. Fall stray to Aleutians and northwestern Alaska from Eurasia.

Small short tailed bunting. Sparrow-like. Streaked brown back. Chestnut crown. Creamy-white eye ring. Rufous cheek patch outlined in black.

Song: call is a sharp "tsick".

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Videos

2 videos
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

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

Little Bunting

1 rule
Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 1
What colour were the WINGS ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?
Very short · Short · Medium
What colour was the SIDE ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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 ?
Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Sparrow-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northwestern Canada or United States
result:215-little-bunting:1:1 Source: 215 Little Bunting, row 1