The Winter Bunting Count or Bunting Count is a part of a broader citizen science initiative aimed at gathering information on the migration and wintering patterns of six bunting species across Asia– Black-faced Bunting, Chestnut-eared Bunting, Chestnut Bunting, Little Bunting, Rustic Bunting, and Yellow-breasted Bunting. In 2022, India was one of seven participating countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. Although these six species were the target bunting species, birders were encouraged to document all bunting species they encountered during the count period.
Here is a summary report of the 1st Bunting Count held between Nov 2022 to Apr 2023
Key Highlights for India:
- 62 checklists covering 40 sites across 14 provinces recorded buntings. All data for India was uploaded through the eBird platform.
- India recorded 15 bunting species (Table 1), marking the highest diversity among the participating countries.
- Four of the six target species were recorded, including Black-faced Bunting, Chestnut-eared Bunting, Little Bunting, and Yellow-breasted Bunting.
- Yellow-breasted Bunting was recorded in 8 sites of 3 provinces during November 2022 to January 2023 and remained absent in Feb to Apr 2023.
- Black-faced Bunting and Little Bunting were recorded constantly in the country throughout the survey period, in which the former one was recorded during Nov 22 to Mar 23 while the latter one was recorded during Nov 2022 to Apr 2023.
- Other species like Black-headed, Red-headed, and Reed Buntings were also recorded in significant numbers during certain months.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the birders for their dedicated efforts in documenting buntings.
Table 1: Bunting species reported between Nov 2022 to Apr 2023 in India
| Species | Nov- Dec 2022 | Jan-Feb 2023 | Mar- Apr 2023 |
| Black-faced Bunting | 8 | 26 | 1 |
| Black-headed Bunting | 4 | 200 | |
| Chestnut-eared Bunting | 2 | ||
| Crested Bunting | 3 | 1 | |
| Godlewski’s Bunting | 12 | ||
| Gray-necked Bunting | 6 | ||
| Little Bunting | 5 | 20 | 8 |
| Red-headed Bunting | 6 | 40 | |
| Reed Bunting | 7 | 3 | |
| Rock Bunting | 5 | ||
| Striolated Bunting | 1 | ||
| Tristram’s Bunting | 1 | ||
| White-capped Bunting | 1 | ||
| Yellow-breasted Bunting | 5 | 4 | |
| Yellow-browed Bunting | 1 |
*Max count of each species in each month
Regions reporting Yellow-breasted Bunting
- Kerala: Recorded two Yellow-breasted Buntings in January.
- West Bengal: Eight Yellow-breasted Bunting recorded in West Bengal between December- January
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Four Yellow-breasted Bunting recorded in November and December.
Conclusion:
With the highest bunting diversity recorded among the participating countries, India plays a crucial role in the conservation of these land birds. The data from this initiative not only deepens our understanding of bunting species but also contributes to broader bird conservation efforts across Asia. We hope that future bunting counts will see wider participation, leading to more comprehensive insights into the status of bunting populations.
We are grateful to our Asia coordinator for sharing the summary of these results.
Are you ready to spot buntings for the 2024-25 Bunting Count? Whether you’ve already seen a few or are just starting your search, find all the details you need here!
Results of Bunting Count 2023-24 (Coming Soon)
Header Image: Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala © Krishnan Sivasubramanian/ Macaulay Library
