Lapland Bunting

Calcarius lapponicus

Lapland Bunting

Quick Facts

Classification

Scientific name:

Calcarius lapponicus

Family:

Buntings

Conservation status:

Amber

Measurements

Length:

15cm to 16cm

Wingspan:

25.5cm to 28cm

Weight:

20g to 28g

Other birds in the Buntings family

About the Lapland Bunting

The lapland bunting is comparable in size to the reed bunting but is ever so slightly larger. Most of the body is covered by a chestnut sort of colour accompanied by a distinctive pattern on the head. Most of the time, these birds can be found on the ground and sometimes in small flocks.

Lapland buntings are quite rare to see here in the UK, but occasional birds can be found in Scotland during the summer, where the bird will have a distinctive black throat, face and crown.

What does a Lapland Bunting eat?

Their diets mainly consist of seeds.

Other birds in the Buntings family

Yellowhammer

Male is unmistakeable due to bright yellow head. Females are more low-key.

Snow Bunting

Reed Bunting

Sparrow-sized and common in wetlands with reedbeds. Males are highly distinctive in their breeding plumage.

Corn Bunting

There are forty five different species of Old World Buntings, which are predominantly European seed eating birds similar to finches and are related to American Sparrows. Of the forty five different species, forty fall within the genus of Emberiza. The corn bunting is generally classed within this genus and is monotypic.

Cirl Bunting

Found mainly across southern and western continental Europe and parts of north Africa, this attractive little bird can also be found on New Zealand’s South Island following a successful introduction in the late 19th century.

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