The id of chestnut-eared bunting and Little Bunting has suddenly become a hot discussion topic.
However, may I raise a third option?
This bird looks like a Rustic Bunting to me, though I have no experience on this species.
gary Author: pchunchiu Time: 3/11/2007 12:01
Thanks Gary. I'll be very glad if it is a rustic bunting, but I am not very convinced as it lacks chestnut streaks on flanks which should occur in all plumages of rustic bunting. According to the book Birds of South-East Asia, this bird seems to match the First-winter female of Chestnut-eared Bunting as both of them show a buffy crown,nape,breast and flanks. One thing I am not very sure if Chestnut-eared Bunting bears such well-defined lateral crown stipes. Author: gary Time: 3/11/2007 17:18
Chiu,
yes, you are right. Having go through a more detail of Rustic, it should has white wing bars, reddish flanks and no such bold lateral crown stipe. So, Rustic can be rule out.
However, I've never seen a Chestnut-eared has a distinctive lateral crown stripe and brownish median crown stripe. It should be a Little then.
If you have the concept of size, Little usually give a small-sized impression .
Gary
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