In News:

Little Bunting recently spotted in Mount Abu, Rajasthan, a sighting previously unseen in the region.

About the Little Bunting:

• Scientific Name: Emberiza pusilla
• Family: Bunting family (Emberizidae)
• IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern

Distribution:

• Breeding Range: Far northeast Europe and northern Eurosiberia to the Russian Far East (taiga region).
• Migratory Pattern: Migrates to the subtropics during winter, with sightings in northern India, southern China, and northern Southeast Asia.

Physical Features:

• Size: Small bird, measuring 12–14 cm (4.7–5.5 inches).
• Coloration:
  • White underparts with dark streaking on the breast and sides.
  • Chestnut face with a white malar stripe, black crown stripes, and a white eye-ring.
  • Fine dark border behind chestnut cheeks.
• Similarity: Resembles a small female reed bunting but with distinct black crown stripes.

Call and Song:

• Call: Distinctive "zik".
• Song: A rolling "siroo-sir-sir-siroo".

Habitat and Behavior:

• Typically found in agricultural areas, feeding on grains.
• Migration: Avoids extreme cold conditions, possibly due to climate change influencing its movement into Rajasthan.

Recent Sightings in India: Spotted in Gurugram, Chandigarh, northern Punjab, and now Rajasthan.

Conservation Significance: The sighting underscores the need to preserve forest areas and wetlands for migratory species like the Little Bunting.