Lark-like Bunting Emberiza impetuani Scientific name definitions

12–14 cm; 13–19 g. A rather plain, nondescript bunting. Nominate race has head sandy brown with darker brown streaking on crown, distinctive broad buffy supercilium extending well onto nape; lower cheek also paler sandy buff; mantle and back grey-brown, streaked dark brown; upperwing-coverts dark brown with broad cinnamon margins, flight-feathers dark brown with narrow cinnamon margins; throat creamy buff, merging into sandy-buff breast and belly, breast with sparse and very narrow brown streaks; iris brown; bill dark grey above, paler blue-grey or yellowish below; legs pinkish-brown. Sexes alike. Juvenile is slightly duller than adult, with more diffuse streaking and browner breast. Race sloggetti is paler that nominate, with broader pale margins on upper contour feathers.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Semi-arid grasslands and shrublands, in both rocky and sandy areas. Typically associated with the Karoo system, both W succulent Karoo and E grassy Nama–Karoo, but irrupts into more mesic habitats during droughts. Occasionally visits gardens in Karoo villages.

Male song a fairly long series of twittering and buzzy notes lasting 2–4 seconds. Contact call a soft “chip”; alarm call a deeper “chut”.