Old world bunting and new world sparrow
Old World buntings and New World sparrows, collectively referred to as true buntings, are ground-feeding birds known for their stout, cone-shaped bills adapted for consuming grains and seeds. Originating in Europe, Asia, and Africa, Old World buntings have been introduced to New Zealand but are absent from some regions, such as extreme Southeast Asia. The name "bunting" is derived from an old English term linked to ground-dwelling birds that feed on grains. In contrast, the New World sparrows, which are not closely related to their Old World counterparts, primarily inhabit North America and have adapted to a wide range of environments, including grasslands and tundra.
These birds typically build cup-shaped nests using dried grasses and various soft materials, laying eggs that the female incubates for about 10 to 14 days. Mating systems can vary, with some species exhibiting monogamous pairings, while others may be polygamous. The family features a rich diversity in plumage, ranging from dull browns and grays to striking colors like blue, green, and red. Vocalizations include loud alarm calls and a variety of songs, contributing to their social behaviors. Overall, these birds play important roles in their ecosystems, primarily feeding on seeds and grains while also contributing to the diet of their young by feeding them arthropods.
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Old world bunting and new world sparrow
Old World buntings and New World sparrows are called true buntings. The name bunting comes from an old English word and refers to several ground-feeding, grain-eating birds. These birds have stout, cone-shaped bills for crushing and taking husks off seeds.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Superfamily: Emberizoidea
Genus: Various (see below)
Species: Various (see below)
Old World buntings originated in Europe, Asia, and Africa and have been introduced into New Zealand, but they are absent from extreme southeast Asia and Australasia. The name bunting probably comes from the old English word "buntyle," the meaning of which is unknown. It was a name given to a group of birds in Western Europe that ate grain from the ground. Colonists and settlers carried the name to other parts of the world. In the New World, they gave the name to other birds. Some of these birds were sparrows, which are not closely related to the Old World buntings. Many species live in North America.
In the Old World, these birds live in open country, hedgerows, parklands, and various other habitats. New World species also live in open regions, from woodlands and grasslands to arctic tundra, alpine meadows, and deserts. Some species inhabit saltwater and freshwater marshes and forests of several types. In these habitats, they weave dried grass and weeds into cup-shaped nests. The inside lining of hair, moss, feathers, wool, or soft vegetation makes a nice place to lay eggs. The birds hide their nests on the ground or in low bushes.
Plumage, or feathering, colors and patterns are diverse among the family's members. They may be dull brown and gray, as in many sparrows, or bright blue-green, yellow, and red, as in the painted buntings. Several species have distinct plumage patterns that include more than one color in startling combinations. The family's members range from four to nine inches (10 to 23 centimeters) in length and 1/2 to 1 1/2 ounces (10 to 40 grams) in weight. They have loud alarm calls that are easy to follow, but other distress calls may sound as if they are coming from more than one place, like a ventriloquist who makes it sound as if their voice is coming from other places. They have short, simple songs, and long songs with whistles, chatters, and trills.
Old World buntings and New World sparrows chiefly eat grains, seeds, and berries on the ground. They feed arthropods to their young. Arthropods are insects and certain other invertebrates, or animals without skeletons.
Most species are territorial during the breeding season. A male arrives first and defends his area, often the same as the previous year. All breeding activities occur within a male's territory, but he may fly outside his territory to find food. When not breeding, the birds live in loose flocks without territories.
In temperate and Arctic regions, most species are monogamous, which means only one male and female mate with each other. Other species are polygamous. Polygamous breeding means the male mates with more than one female in a season. Some males mate with up to seven females in one season. Other males cannot find a mate. A male bird courts a female by singing as he flies. He chases the female through the vegetation. After mating, she lays four to six eggs with off-white, light brown, or light blue shells with red or black marks. Usually the female incubates the eggs for 10 to 14 days. The male helps feed the young while they are nestlings and fledglings. The nestling period is 10 to 15 days, when the young birds remain in the nest after hatching. They become fledglings when they can fly on their own.
Predators include cats, raccoons, foxes, weasels, and birds of prey.
The average lifespan of birds in this family is estimated at two to five years, though some have lived more than ten years.
Species of Old World buntings and New World sparrows include:
American tree sparrow Spizelloides arborea
Ashy-throated chlorospingus or ashy-throated bush tanager Chlorospingus canigularis
Black-throated sparrow Amphispiza bilineata
California towhee Melozone crissalis
Chaco sparrow Rhynchospiza strigiceps
Chestnut-capped brushfinch Arremon brunneinucha
Fox sparrow Passerella iliaca
Green-backed sparrow Arremonops chloronotus
Green-tailed towhee Pipilo chlorurus
Grassland sparrow Ammodramus humeralis
Guadalupe junco Junco insularis
Large-footed finch Pezopetes capitalis
Lark bunting Calamospiza melanocorys
Lark sparrow Chondestes grammacus
Oaxaca sparrow Aimophila notosticta
Stripe-headed sparrow Peucaea ruficauda
Tricolored brushfinch Atlapetes tricolor
White-throated sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
Bibliography
Camfield, Alaine. "Emberizidae." Animal Diversity Web, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Emberizidae. Accessed 1 May 2024.
Winkler, D. W., et al. "Old World Buntings (Emberizidae)." Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2020, birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/emberi2/cur/introduction. Accessed 1 May 2024.