Bunting

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Bunting
Reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus), male above, female below.

Reed bunting ( Emberiza schoeniclus ), male above, female below.

Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
without rank: Passerida
Superfamily : Passeroidea
Family : Bunting
Genre : Bunting
Scientific name of the  family
Emberizidae
Vigors , 1831
Scientific name of the  genus
Emberiza
Linnaeus , 1758

Ammern (Emberizidae) are a family and a species-rich genus ( Emberiza ) of birds that are closely related to the finches (Fringillidae). They are small songbirds with a finch-like, conical beak that consume seeds and fruits as well as insects. Most of them are migratory birds that prefer to nest in open areas with bushes, trees and exposed song waiting areas. Their nests are mostly on the ground in low vegetation.

features

Ammern are small to medium-sized birds that reach a length of ten to 24 centimeters (genus Pipilo) . Most species reach a body length of 15 centimeters. Males are usually slightly larger than the females. Both sexes are similar in the mostly brown or gray basic color, but the males are almost always more contrasting. Overall, the species in this family have very similar physique and proportions. Although the species are either predominantly soil or tree dwellers, the size of the legs and feet is comparable in all species. As seed-eaters, bunting has conical beaks that taper to a point.

distribution and habitat

Bunting occurs in the Palearctic, Africa and South Asia. In general, they prefer open habitats such as grasslands, deserts, bushland, wetlands, forest edges, agricultural areas and urban fringes.

At least 39 species are found in the Palearctic, Africa, and South Asia. 21 species are represented in Africa, eight of which can be found on the African continent alone. Other species are only found on the African continent during the winter months and do not breed here.

Vocalizations

Male bunting sing to indicate their territory and to attract females. Females rarely sing. The song of some species is just simple, others, e.g. B. the goldhammer , have more melodic chants. It is sung from an excellent place in the territory, some species also sing in flight. Couples communicate with each other and with their flown out boys with a signal call.

nutrition

Bunting are omnivores that eat mainly insects in summer and seeds in winter. The food is mainly sought on the ground.

Reproduction

Most of the bunting are monogamous , some species are also polygamous . The breeding season is the season with the greatest supply of invertebrates to feed the young birds, in the temperate zones the summer months, in tropical species the rainy season. Many species breed more than once a year. The mostly open nests are more likely to be built near the ground up to a height of one meter, up to a maximum of six meters. The females lay three to five eggs. These have a light basic color and are sometimes speckled and spotted. For most species, however, the eggs have squiggles, scribbles, and very fine lines. Usually only the female parent bird breeds, which is provided with food by the male during the breeding season. The hatched young are mainly fed with insects and are fledged nine to twelve days after hatching.

Systematics

Ammern belong to the order of passerine birds (Passeriformes) and to the subordination of songbirds (Passeri). In the past they were listed as the subfamily of the finches (Fringillidae), the tangaren (Thraupidae) or the cardinals (Cardinalidae). Today they are considered an independent family. Their closest relatives are the tanagers, the cardinals, the wood warbler (Parulidae), the sugar bird ( Coereba flaveola ) and the starfish (Icteridae). The New World chambers (Passerellidae) belonged to the Ammern family (Emberizidae) for a long time, but are currently regarded as an independent family due to phylogenetic differences. Many species were also transferred to the families of the Tangaren (Thraupidae) and Cardinals (Cardinalidae). The snow bunting ( Plectrophenax nivalis ) and the spur bunting ( Calcarius lapponicus ) were added to the new family of the spur bunting and snow bunting (Calcariidae). The family now contains only one genus, Emberiza .

The Ammern relatives probably developed in the New World , where they still have their greatest diversity to this day, and spread to Asia and Europe via the Bering Strait .

Types (selection)

Goldenhammer ( Emberiza citrinella )
Meadow bammer ( Emberiza cioides ), male
  • Genus Emberiza
    • Reed bunting ( Emberiza schoeniclus ), Central Europe
    • Zippammer ( Emberiza cia ), Central Europe
    • Ortolan ( Emberiza hortulana ), Central Europe
    • Grauortolan ( Emberiza caesia ), Southeast Europe, Africa
    • Steinortolan ( Emberiza buchanani ), Southeast Europe, Asia
    • Cap bunting ( Emberiza melanocephala ), Southern Europe, Western Asia, Northern India
    • Bunting bunting ( Emberiza cirlus ), southern and central Europe
    • Goldenhammer ( Emberiza citrinella ), Central Europe
    • Spruce spruce ( Emberiza leucocephalos ), Asia and Irrgast in Western Europe
    • Woodhammer ( Emberiza rustica ), Northern Europe and Asia
    • Bunting ( Emberiza pusilla ), Northern Europe and Asia
    • Willow bammer ( Emberiza aureola ), Northern Europe and Asia
    • Chamber of the Turks ( Emberiza cineracea ), Turkey, Western Asia and Northeast Africa
    • Meadow bammer ( Emberiza cioides ), Asia
    • Yellow-browbammon ( Emberiza chrysophrys ), Northeast Asia
    • Brown- headed bunting ( Emberiza bruniceps )
    • House hammer ( Emberiza sahari )
    • Sulfur bunting ( Emberiza sulphurata ), Japan
    • Crested bunting ( Emberiza lathami ), Himalayas to Thailand, Southeast China
    • Gray bunting ( Emberiza calandra ), Central Europe

literature

Web links

Commons : Ammern (Emberizidae)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Single receipts

  1. ↑ Fry et al., P. 564
  2. ↑ Fry et al., P. 565
  3. ↑ Harrison et al., P. 440