Yellow Bunting Emberiza sulphurata Scientific name definitions

13–14 cm; male average 15·2 g, female average 14·6 g. Rather small, undistinctive bunting. Male breeding has head uniformly greenish, with some grey tinge, white eyering, lores and chin black, throat yellowish; nape grey, tinged green, grading into greyish-green on upperparts, where mantle and scapulars with dark streaks (back to uppertail-coverts with streaks absent or very ill-defined); central rectrices dark brown, the rest blackish-brown, outer pair with much white on both webs, next pair with white wedge on inner web; lesser upperwing-coverts greyish-green, median coverts blackish with broad pale buff to whitish tips, greater coverts blackish with buffy fringes and pale buff to whitish tips (forming a second obvious wingbar), tertials blackish-brown with cinnamon-buff outer edges, primaries and secondaries brown with pale edges, those of secondaries more cinnamon-buff; underparts yellowish, tinged greenish, side of breast tinged greyish-green, rear flanks with dark streaks, undertail-coverts pale yellow; iris dark chestnut-brown; bill blue-grey; legs pinkish. Male non-breeding is very similar to breeding, but lores greyish, no black visible on chin, has ill-defined malar stripe, general colour of head is browner with greyish tinge (not so green as during breeding), mantle tinged brownish, uppertail-coverts tipped olive, wingbars are buffier and less prominent. First-winter male is similar to non-breeding, but browner tinge more apparent, especially on breast, and lesser upperwing-coverts tinged olive; iris dark grey-brown. Female breeding is similar to male, but with paler lores and no black on chin, upperparts more brown, less green, and underparts more buffish-yellow, breast tinged brown. Female non-breeding is similar to non-breeding male, but head and upperparts still browner compared with breeding plumage. First-winter female is rather similar to non-breeding adult, but with faint streaks on breast and lesser upperwing-coverts olive-tinged. Juvenile is similar to first-winter, crown showing some streaks, but in general head is plain, with no contrast between ear-coverts and submoustachial stripe, unlike E. spodocephala.

Mountains of N & W Honshu, in Japan. Main wintering area imperfectly known: includes N Philippines, probably also Taiwan and SE China (Fujian, Guangdong).

Song , usually from inconspicuous perch high in tree , usually several twittering phrases alternated, “twee twee tsitsit prewprew zrii”, and then “ziriritt zeezee tew” followed by “psew zereret zeetew”, after such phrases sometimes a variable twittering, but usual ending a single “zrii” or low-pitched “tew”; similar to song of E. spodocephala, but shorter. Call a metallic “tsip”, similar to that of E. tristrami and E. rutila, softer than similar note of E. spodocephala.

VULNERABLE. Restricted-range species: present in Central Honshu Montane Forests Secondary Area. Uncommon; declining. No reliable population estimates; further study needed. Has been suspected to breed locally in S Japan (Kyushu). Thought to have suffered moderate decline, since it has become rarer in traditional breeding areas, with more significant fall in numbers during 20th century. Decrease attributed mainly to habitat degradation and loss, chiefly through intensification of agriculture, and also trapping for cagebird trade in Japan in the past, but now probably more importantly in S China wintering/passage areas (where huge numbers of E. aureola still hunted for human consumption). Although not well documented, use of pesticides seems also to be correlated with this species’ decline; it has caused similar problems in several Asian countries, and is especially linked with rapid decline of small passerines in rural areas of S mainland China. Use of toxic chemicals in cultivated fields probably one of key reasons for rapid decline in breeding numbers. Present during breeding season in several protected areas in C Honshu, including Asama National Protection Area (Gunma and Nagano Prefectures), Northern Alps National Protection Area (Toyama, Nagano and Gifu Prefectures) and Katano Duck Pond Protection Area and Special Protection Area (Ishikawa Prefecture); occurs during passage in other protected areas of Japan, as well as in Hong Kong (Mai Po marshes). Legally protected in Japan, North Korea and Hong Kong.