Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos

The Pine Bunting breeds in Siberia and much of temperate Asia. It migrates south to Central Asia and northern India for winter. These photos were taken in Kazakhstan by Alexandra Makhnina.

The male bunting's breeding plumage includes a white crown patch and a maroon face with a white moustache a little like that of an Ortolan Bunting. He has a rufous chest area and a white belly and undertail. The female is more streaky and looks like the related Yellowhammer, but with yellow replaced by white. The song is also like that of a Yellowhammer.