View source for Bunting

{{automatic Taxobox
| taxon = Emberizidae
| name = Buntings
| image = 28-090504-black-headed-bunting-at-first-layby.png
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = [[Black-headed Bunting]]
| authority = [[Nicholas Aylward Vigors|Vigors]], 1825{{TiF31}}<!--Not 1831!-->
| display_parents=3
| subdivision_ranks = [[Genus|Genera]]
| subdivision = {{linked taxon list 
| Fringillariinae | 
{{Linked species list
| Polymitra | 
| Fringillaria | 
}}
| Emberizinae | 
{{linked species list 
| Miliaria | 
| Spina | 
| "Emberiza" | 
| Cia | 
| Glycyspina | 
| Emberiza | 
}}
| Melophinae | 
{{linked species list 
| "Melophus" | 
| Melophus | 
| Granativora |
}}
| Schoeniclinae |
{{linked species list 
| Cristemberiza | 
| Latoucheornis |
| Schoeniclus | 
| Orospina | 
}}
}}
}}
__NOTOC__
The buntings, '''Emberizidae, ''Emberiza''''' are a [[family (biology)|family]] of [[passerine]] [[bird]]s. They are seed-eating birds with a distinctively shaped bill. They are divided into four subgenera.

Other buntings are found in [[Cardinalidae]] and [[Passerellidae]].

==Characteristics==

Emberizids are small birds, typically around 15&nbsp;cm in length, with finch-like bills and nine primary feathers. The family ranges in size from the ''[[Sporophila]]'' seedeaters, the smaller species of which are about 10&nbsp;cm and weigh 9–10&nbsp;grams, to the [[Abert's Towhee]], at 24&nbsp;cm (9.5&nbsp;in), and the shorter-tailed, but chunkier [[Canyon Towhee]], at 54&nbsp;grams (1.9&nbsp;oz). They live in a variety of habitats, including woodland, brush, marsh, and grassland. The Old World species tend to have brown, streaked, [[plumage]], although some New World species can be very brightly coloured. Many species have distinctive head patterns. Their diet consists mainly of seeds, but may be supplemented with insects, especially when feeding the young.<ref name=EoB>{{cite book |editor=Forshaw, Joseph|last= Baptista| first=Luis F.| authorlink=Luis Baptista| year=1991|title=Encyclopaedia of Animals: Birds|publisher= Merehurst Press|location=London|pages= 210–212|isbn= 1-85391-186-0}}</ref>

The habits of emberizids are similar to those of [[finch]]es, with which they sometimes used to be grouped.  Older sources may place some emberizids in the [[Fringillidae]], and the common names of some emberizids still refer to them as finches. With a few exceptions, emberizids build cup-shaped nests from grasses and other plant fibres, and are [[monogamy|monogamous]].<ref name=EoB/>

==Systematics and taxonomy==
The relationships of these birds with other groups within the huge [[nine-primaried oscine]] assemblage are at this point largely unresolved. Indeed relationships within the Emberizidae as defined here are uncertain with the possibility that each of the three main groups may not be all that closely related. 

The results of a recent biochemical study<ref>Alström, P., Olsson, U., Lei, F., Wang, H-t., Gao, W. & Sundberg, P. Phylogeny and classification of the Old World Emberizini (Aves, Passeriformes). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 47, pp. 960-973.</ref> suggest that ''[[Melophus]]'', ''[[Latoucheornis]]'', and ''[[Corn Bunting|Miliaria]]'' may be related to various members of ''[[Emberiza]]'' and perhaps should be subsumed within that genus.

{{div col|4}}
===[[Fringillariinae]]===
====''[[Polymitra]]''====
* [[Cabanis's Bunting]], ''Polymitra cabanisi''
* [[Golden-breasted Bunting]], ''Polymitra flaviventris''
* [[Somali Bunting]], ''Polymitra poliopleura''

====''[[Fringillaria]]''====
* [[Cape Bunting]], ''Fringillaria capensis''
* [[Socotra Bunting]], ''Fringillaria socotrana''
* [[House Bunting]], ''Fringillaria sahari''
* [[Striolated Bunting]], ''Fringillaria striolata''
* [[Lark-like Bunting]], ''Fringillaria impetuani''
* [[Gosling's Bunting]], ''Fringillaria goslingi''
* [[Cinnamon-breasted Bunting]], ''Fringillaria tahapisi''

===[[Emberizinae]]===
====''[[Miliaria]]''====
* [[Corn Bunting]], ''Miliaria calandra''

====''[[Spina]]''====
* [[Chestnut-eared Bunting]], ''Spina fucata''

====''[["Emberiza"]]''====
* [[Tibetan Bunting]], ''"Emberiza" koslowi''

====''[[Cia]]''====
* [[Jankowski's Bunting]], ''Cia jankowskii''
* [[Rock Bunting]], ''Cia cia''
* [[Sharpe's Bunting]] / [[Yunnan Bunting]], ''Cia yunnanensis''
* [[Meadow Bunting]], ''Cia cioides''
* [[Godlewski's Bunting]], ''Cia godlewskii''

====''[[Glycyspina]]''====
* [[Grey-necked Bunting]], ''Glycyspina buchanani''
* [[Cinereous Bunting]], ''Glycyspina cineracea''
* [[Ortolan Bunting]], ''Glycyspina hortulana''
* [[Cretzschmar's Bunting]], ''Glycyspina caesia''

====''[[Emberiza (subgenus)|Emberiza]]''====
* [[Cirl Bunting]], ''Emberiza cirlus''
* [[White-capped Bunting]], ''Emberiza stewarti''
* [[Yellowhammer]], ''Emberiza citrinella''
* [[Pine Bunting]], ''Emberiza leucocephalos''

===[[Melophinae]]=== 
====''[["Melophus"]]''====
* [[Brown-rumped Bunting]], ''"Melophus" affinis''

====''[[Melophus]]''====
* [[Crested Bunting]], ''Melophus lathami''

====''[[Granativora]]''====
* [[Black-headed Bunting]], ''Granativora melanocephala''
* [[Red-headed Bunting]], ''Granativora bruniceps''

===[[Schoeniclinae]]===
====''[[Cristemberiza]]''==== 
* [[Yellow-throated Bunting]], ''Cristemberiza elegans''

====''[[Latoucheornis]]''====
* [[Slaty Bunting]], ''Latoucheornis siemsseni''

====''[[Schoeniclus]]''==== 
* [[Ochre-rumped Bunting]] / [[Japanese Reed-Bunting]], ''Schoeniclus yessoensis''
* [[Pallas's Bunting]] / [[Pallas's Reed-Bunting]], ''Schoeniclus pallasi''
* [[Reed Bunting]] / [[Common Reed-Bunting]], ''Schoeniclus schoeniclus''

====''[[Orospina]]''==== 
* [[Rustic Bunting]], ''Orospina rustica''
* [[Little Bunting]], ''Orospina pusilla''
* [[Yellow-breasted Bunting]], ''Orospina aureola''
* [[Chestnut Bunting]], ''Orospina rutila''
* [[Black-faced Bunting]], ''Orospina spodocephala''
* [[Yellow Bunting]], ''Orospina sulphurata''
* [[Yellow-browed Bunting]], ''Orospina chrysophrys''
* [[Tristram's Bunting]], ''Orospina tristrami''
* [[Grey Bunting]], ''Orospina variabilis''
{{div col end}}

==In other families==
{{div col|4}}
===[[Passerellidae]]===
''[[Chlorospingus]]'' seems to belong here too.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}}
* Genus ''[[Arremon]]'' (13 species)
* Genus ''[[Arremonops]]'' (4 species)
* Genus ''[[Melozone]]'' (7 species)
* Genus ''[[Pipilo]]'' – towhees (9 species)
* Genus ''[[Aimophila]]'' (6 species)
* Genus ''[[Peucaea]]'' (8 species)
* Genus ''[[Oriturus]]'' – Striped Sparrow
* Genus ''[[Torreornis]]'' – Zapata Sparrow
* Genus ''[[Spizella]]'' (7 species)
* Genus ''[[Pooecetes]]'' – Vesper Sparrow
* Genus ''[[Chondestes]]'' – Lark Sparrow
* Genus ''[[Amphispiza]]'' (3 species)
* Genus ''[[Calamospiza]]'' – Lark Bunting
* Genus ''[[Passerculus]]'' (1–2 species) – savannah sparrows, Ipswich Sparrow, large-billed sparrows
* Genus ''[[Ammodramus]]'' (9 species)
* Genus ''[[Passerella]]'' – fox sparrows (probably 4 species)
* Genus ''[[Xenospiza]]'' – Sierra Madre Sparrow or Bailey's Sparrow
* Genus ''[[Melospiza]]'' (3 species)
* Genus ''[[Zonotrichia]]'' (5 species)
* Genus ''[[Junco]]'' – juncos (4 species)

The following are a group of apparently closely related [[neotropical]] sparrows known as the [[brush-finch]]es
* Genus ''[[Atlapetes]]'' (around 28 species)
* Genus ''[[Buarremon]]'' (4 species)
* Genus ''[[Lysurus]]''  (2 species)
* Genus ''[[Pselliophorus]]''  (2 species)
* Genus ''[[Pezopetes]]'' – Large-footed Finch

===[[Calcariidae]]===
* Genus ''[[Calcarius]]'' (3 species)<ref>Klicka J, Zink RM, Winker K. 2003. Longspurs and snow buntings: phylogeny and biogeography of a high-latitude clade (Calcarius). Mol Phylogenet Evol. Feb;26(2):165-75.</ref>
* Genus ''[[Rhyncophanes]]'' (1 species)
* Genus ''[[Plectrophenax]]'' – Arctic buntings (2 species)

===Genera belonging elsewhere===
'''The rest of the traditional Emberizidae are listed below. While they do not form a natural group most appear to be closer to various [[Thraupidae|tanager]] genera, and for the largest part they are often known collectively as [[tanager-finches]].'''

* Genus ''[[Amaurospiza]]'' – blue seedeaters (4 species) - may belong with certain [[grosbeak]]s ''([[Cyanocompsa]])'' in the family [[Cardinalidae]]. 
* Genus ''[[Acanthidops]]'' – Peg-billed Finch
* Genus ''[[Camarhynchus]]'' – tree-finches (5–6 species)
* Genus ''[[Catamenia (genus)|Catamenia]]'' – atypical seedeaters (3 species)
* Genus ''[[Certhidea]]'' – Warbler Finch
* Genus ''[[Charitospiza]]'' – Coal-crested Finch
* Genus ''[[Coereba]]'' – Bananaquit
* Genus ''[[Coryphaspiza]]'' – Black-masked Finch
* Genus ''[[Coryphospingus]]'' (2 species)
* Genus ''[[Diglossa (bird)|Diglossa]]'' – typical flowerpiercers (14 species)
* Genus ''[[Diglossopis]]'' – blue flowerpiercers (4 species)
* Genus ''[[Diuca]]'' – diuca-finches (2 species)
* Genus ''[[Dolospingus]]'' – White-naped Seedeater
* Genus ''[[Donacospiza]]'' – Long-tailed Reed-finch
* Genus ''[[Emberizoides]]'' – grass-finches (3 species)
* Genus ''[[Embernagra]]'' (2 species)
* Genus ''[[Euneornis]]'' – Orangequit
* Genus ''[[Geospiza]]'' – ground finches (6 species)
* Genus ''[[Gubernatrix]]'' – Yellow Cardinal
* Genus ''[[Haplospiza]]'' (2 species)
* Genus ''[[Idiopsar]]'' – Short-tailed Finch
* Genus ''[[Incaspiza]]'' (5 species)
* Genus ''[[Lophospingus]]'' (2 species)
* Genus ''[[Loxigilla]]'' – Antillean bullfinches (4 species)
* Genus ''[[Loxipasser]]'' – Yellow-shouldered Grassquit
* Genus ''[[Melanodera]]'' (2 species)
* Genus ''[[Melanospiza]]'' – St. Lucia Black Finch
* Genus ''[[Melopyrrha]]'' – Cuban Bullfinch
* Genus ''[[Nesospiza]]'' – Tristan da Cunha finches (3 species)
* Genus ''[[Oryzoborus]]'' – seed-finches (6 species)
* Genus ''[[Paroaria]]'' – cardinal-tanagers (5 species)
* Genus ''[[Phrygilus]]'' – sierra-finches (11 species)
* Genus ''[[Piezorhina]]'' – Cinereous Finch
* Genus ''[[Pinaroloxias]]'' – Cocos Island Finch
* Genus ''[[Poospiza]]'' – warbling-finches (17 species)
* Genus ''[[Rhodospingus]]'' – Crimson-breasted Finch
* Genus ''[[Rowettia]]'' – Gough Finch
* Genus ''[[Saltatricula]]'' – Many-colored Chaco-finch
* Genus ''[[Sicalis]]'' – yellow-finches (12 species)
* Genus ''[[Sporophila]]'' – typical seedeaters (some 55 species)
* Genus ''[[Tiaris]]'' – typical grassquits (5 species)
* Genus ''[[Volatinia]]'' – Blue-black Grassquit
* Genus ''[[Xenospingus]]'' – Slender-billed Finch
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/buntings-seedeaters-allies-emberizidae Emberizidae videos, photos and sounds] on the Internet Bird Collection
*[http://www.xeno-canto.org/browse.php?query=emberizinae Emberizidae sounds] on xeno-canto.org


{{Project Bird Families}}
{{Project Bird Taxonomy}}

[[Category:Passerines|*{{PN}}]]
[[Category:Oscines|*{{PN}}]]
[[Category:Passeriformes| ]]
[[Category:Passerida| ]]
[[Category:Passeroidea| ]]
[[Category:Core Passeroidea| ]]
[[Category:Passerid clade|*{{PN}}]]
[[Category:Nine-primaried oscines|*{{PN}}]]
[[Category:Icteroidae|*{{PN}}]]
[[Category:Bunting and sparrow group|*{{PN}}]]
[[Category:Emberizidae| ]]
[[Category:Emberiza| ]]
[[Category:Families of Passeriformes]]
[[Category:Genera of Passeriformes]]