Slaty Bunting Emberiza siemsseni Scientific name definitions

13 cm; c. 20 g. Highly distinctive plumages; tail feathers unusual, relatively broad towards tip, but tapering to narrow base, bill comparatively small and neat, and hind claw relatively strongly arched. Male is almost wholly dark slate-blue , with diffuse dusky lores and relatively inconspicuous white centre of belly and undertail-coverts ; upper­wing darker, having blackish feather centres (most apparent on tertials) and dark blue fringes, bases of inner webs of secondaries white (sometimes visible in flight); tail dark blue, extensive white on inner web of outermost feather; iris dark brown; bill black, in winter often with whiter cutting edges or lower mandible (significance of which unclear); legs flesh-pink. First-winter male is similar to adult, but when plumage fresh body feathers have narrow olive-brown fringes and greater upperwing-coverts white tips (forming narrow bar). Female has whole head and foreparts of body brownish-rufous, brightest rufous on crown, shading into olive-brown on mantle and uppertail-coverts, with rump greyer; breast rufous with inconspicuous fine pale shaft streaks, shading into olive-brown on flanks, becoming white on central belly and undertail-coverts; upperwing dull brown with darker feather centres, tertial centres darkest; fringes and tips of wing-coverts rufous (two inconspicuous wingbars), bases of inner webs of secondaries white; tail dark brown, extensive white on inner web of outermost feather; bare parts as for male. First-winter female is similar to adult, but when plumage fresh has more clearly streaked mantle and scapulars, contrasting with paler rump and darker uppertail-coverts; tips of wing-coverts paler rufous, forming two narrower, paler bars than when adult. Juvenile is similar to first-winter female, but head and throat duller rufous, inconspicuously finely streaked darker, ear-coverts somewhat paler and greyer, outer webs of tertials contrasting buffy white, tips of greater coverts and (less obviously) median coverts pale buff (forming narrow bars), white of central belly and undertail-coverts obscured by greyish mottling.

Breeds in subtropical valley forests in hills and mountains, chiefly between 1500 m and 2100 m; favours vicinity of bamboo thickets in secondary forest and scrubby cover of degraded forest. Descends to foothills in winter, then found at 500–1700 m, where takes advantage of human activities by foraging about villages, and even city parks.

Altitudinal and short-distance migrant. Post-breeding descent to much lower elevations than those occupied during breeding season.

Few data. Seemingly chiefly small invertebrates, certainly so in breeding season, when recorded as taking small beetles (Coleoptera), ants (Formicidae), cicadas (Cicadidae) and their larvae, as well as some small plant seeds. In non-breeding season small parties recorded in vicinity of villages, gathering to feed on kitchen waste. Forages on ground, keeping very much under cover.

Song rather high in pitch and variable in content, containing parid-like phrases and snatches recalling song of Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis): most frequent type begins with high-pitched whistled notes, before breaking into a twitter and terminating in another high-pitched note, has been transcribed as “ziii-ziiiu-tzittzittzittzit hee”; another song a less varied “siii tsiu zhiu zhiu zhiu zhiu”, and others beginning with a rapid trill have been transcribed as “ze-ze-ze-ze-swee twiitwit” and “tze-tze-tze tze teez, teez, teez”. Typical call a sharp “zick” or doubled “zick-zick”.

Virtually undocumented. Nest-building reported in early Jun in Sichuan, but perhaps begins as early as early May in some areas; singing individual in Dabie Shan (NE Hubei/SW Anhui) in mid-Apr was probably on its breeding grounds. Presumed to be monogamous. Observation of pair carrying nesting materials indicated that nest was c. 1·5 m from ground in shrubby riverside bushes.

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Central Sichuan Mountains EBA. Despite being relatively little studied, this bunting is not considered to approach thresholds for even threatened status. Has extensive range in Sichuan, and evidently breeds elsewhere (S Shaanxi, and in Huang Shan of Anhui). Preference for degraded secondary forest and no obvious decline in wintering numbers suggest stable population. No doubt easily overlooked because of its relatively skulking habits and high-pitched simple song.