The breeding plumage of the male black-headed bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) makes it a very distinctive bird, with a uniformly black head and tail that contrasts with its bright yellow throat and underside (3) (4). The upperparts are red-brown and the wings are black with pale buff margins (4). The non-breeding male is much duller, with the feather fringes around the head and upperparts suffused grey-brown (3). The male always retains darker feathers over the ears and on the lores between the eyes and bill, which are not as prominent in the female (2) (3).
The female black-headed bunting is more indistinct than the male. The head and upperparts of the female are sandy-brown, with a dark streaked pattern (2) which continues onto the sides of the body (3). The upperparts may sometimes have a slightly red-brown tint, which is most vivid on the rump (4). The underparts are unstreaked (4) and vary in colour between white, buff and yellow, with a yellow area under the tail (2), while the throat, breast and belly are also tinged yellow (3). The eyes of the black-headed bunting are brown in both sexes and the dark grey bill is fairly straight and bulbous with a sharp tip (3).
The juvenile black-headed bunting is not dissimilar to the female in appearance, with a buff-coloured crown, suffused with dark spots at the back of the head. The throat, rump and mantle are golden-buff, with heavy streaking on the upperparts. The belly and sides of the juvenile are paler in colouration, contrasting with yellow on the underside of the tail (2).
The black-headed bunting produces a wide range of vocalisations, especially on its breeding grounds (2). The male sings throughout the day in breeding season, usually from an elevated area (5). The rather pleasurable song is a musical ‘chit’ or ‘sitt’, developing into a ‘siit siit siiteree-siit-siiteeray’ (4).
- Length: 16 - 18 cm (2)
- Male wingspan: 89 - 102 cm (2)
- Female wingspan: 82 - 94 cm (2)
- 24 - 33 g (3)