Reed Bunting

Chunky buntings prefer wetlands with reed beds, scattered bushes, farmland, and open areas with vegetation. During spring and summer, males sing from prominent perches, displaying a distinctive black-and-white head pattern that fades in winter. Females have a streaky appearance similar to other buntings, with boldly striped heads. To differentiate from the closely related Pallas’s Bunting, note the rusty shoulders, thicker bill, and dark brownish rump of the Chunky Bunting. White outer tail feathers are visible in flight. Their calls include a soft “tsew” and buzzy notes.