Little Bunting

Emberiza pusilla

Introduction

Resembling a Linnet-sized female Reed Bunting, this is a scarce visitor from Russia. Most records come from the autumn, although increasing numbers are being found in winter finch and bunting flocks.

Key Stats

Rare

16g

4-6

<1%

BTO Records

5.4k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

266.7% expansion

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Little Bunting

ID Videos

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This section features BTO training videos headlining this species, or featuring it as a potential confusion species.

Winter buntings

Songs and Calls

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Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Little Bunting, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Call:

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

Listed on the Annexes of*

Bern(III)

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Durham, 1902

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Little Bunting is a scarce passage migrant that has exhibited a large increase in the numbers observed in the UK in the past 30 years; a few individuals have attempted to overwinter in the UK in recent years [White & Kehoe 2024]. The European population trend in unknown.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.4%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution for Little Bunting

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

266.7 %

Seasonality

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Little Bunting is a scarce vagrant most often encountered during autumn migration, although some birds remain to winter and can be seen on spring migration.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Little Bunting movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Little Bunting, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Productivity and Nesting

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Nesting timing

Typical (exceptional) number of broods

1–2

Source

Egg measurements

Typical length x width

18x14 mm

Mass (% shell)

1.9g (6%)

Source

Clutch Size

Typical number

6-4 eggs

Observed minimum and maximum

3-7 eggs

Source

Incubation

Incubation by

Male + Female

Typical duration

12-11 days

Source

Fledging

Type of chick

Altricial, downy

Typical duration

8-5 days

Source

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Biometrics

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Wing length and body weights are from live birds (source).

Ring Size

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Little Bunting

Classification and Codes

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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Scientific name: Emberiza pusilla
Authority: Pallas, 1776

BTO 2-letter code: LJ
BTO 5-letter code: LITBU
Euring code number: 18740

Alternate species names

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Catalan: repicatalons petit
Czech: strnad malinký
Danish: Dværgværling
Dutch: Dwerggors
Estonian: väiketsiitsitaja
Finnish: pikkusirkku
French: Bruant nain

German: Zwergammer
Hungarian: törpesármány
Icelandic: Dvergtittlingur
Irish: Gealóg Bheag
Italian: Zigolo minore
Latvian: maza sterste
Lithuanian: mažoji starta
Norwegian: Dvergspurv

Polish: trznadelek
Portuguese: escrevedeira-pequena
Slovak: strnádka malá
Slovenian: mali strnad
Spanish: Escribano pigmeo
Swedish: dvärgsparv
Welsh: Bras Bychan

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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