Rustic Bunting
Credit: Kevin Lin

North American field guide

Rustic Bunting

Emberiza rustica

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Identification

Field notes

15 cm (6") Rare. Aleutians. Eurasian species that winters in China and Japan and strays to North America in migration.

Male: black head. White line behind eye and whitish nape spot. Bright streaked rusty back. Rusty sides and breast band.

Female: sparrow-like. Brownish head pattern. Brown streaked back. Mostly white underside with diffuse rusty streaking below.

Song: bubbling warble, call is sharp "jit".

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos
Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 7 rules

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

Rustic Bunting (Female)

4 rules
Rule 1 17 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 ?
Short · Medium · Long
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
Light outer edge or corners · None · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?
Yes · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
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 · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?
Spring
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northwestern Canada or United States
result:211-rustic-bunting-female:1:1 Source: 211 Rustic Bunting (Female), row 1
Rule 2 17 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 ?
Short · Medium · Long
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
Light outer edge or corners · None · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?
Yes · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
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 · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?
Summer
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northwestern Canada or United States
result:211-rustic-bunting-female:2:1 Source: 211 Rustic Bunting (Female), row 2
Rule 3 17 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 ?
Short · Medium · Long
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
Light outer edge or corners · None · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?
Yes · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
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 · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?
Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northwestern Canada or United States
result:211-rustic-bunting-female:3:1 Source: 211 Rustic Bunting (Female), row 3
Rule 4 17 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 ?
Short · Medium · Long
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
Light outer edge or corners · None · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?
Yes · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
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 · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?
Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northwestern Canada or United States
result:211-rustic-bunting-female:4:1 Source: 211 Rustic Bunting (Female), row 4

Rustic Bunting (Male)

3 rules
Rule 1 19 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 ?
Short · Medium · Long
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
Light outer edge or corners · None · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?
Yes · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · 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) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 ?
Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?
Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northwestern Canada or United States
result:210-rustic-bunting-male:1:1 Source: 210 Rustic Bunting (Male), row 1
Rule 2 17 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 ?
Short · Medium · Long
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
Light outer edge or corners · None · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?
Yes · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
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 · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?
Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northwestern Canada or United States
result:211-rustic-bunting-female:3:2 Source: 211 Rustic Bunting (Female), row 3
Rule 3 17 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 ?
Short · Medium · Long
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
Light outer edge or corners · None · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?
Yes · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · 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) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
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 · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?
Winter
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northwestern Canada or United States
result:211-rustic-bunting-female:4:2 Source: 211 Rustic Bunting (Female), row 4