Emberizidae - Old World Buntings

There are around 313 species of birds in this family. The birds in this family are small to mid-size and have small, cone-shaped bills. Most species are brown in color, although some are more brightly colored. Males and females usually look alike, although males may be a little larger. They are found all over the world and live in a wide variety of habitats including deserts, tundra, grasslands, wetlands, woodlands, agricultural lands, and suburban and urban areas.

Most birds in this family mate with only one partner during the breeding season. Nests are usually placed in a tree, although some species make their nest on the ground or in a bush.

Most of the birds in this family are non-migratory. Most of their diet is made up of seeds, but many species also eat insects. The birds in this family are often called the New World sparrows, but they are not closely related to the the Old World sparrows in the Passeridae family.

Emberizidae Photo Gallery

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct Not Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.

U.S. Status Key Threatened in US Endangered in US Introduced Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife. Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile.

New Hampshire Status Key Threatened in NH Endangered in NH Breeds in NH (birds) Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info Click for Image

New Hampshire Species		North/Central American Species
None		Gray Bunting - Emberiza variabilis Wedge-tailed Grass-finch - Emberizoides herbicola Orangequit - Euneornis campestris Slaty Finch - Haplospiza rustica Yellow-eyed Junco - Junco phaeonotus Volcano Junco - Junco vulcani Barbados Bullfinch - Loxigilla barbadensis Lesser Antillean Bullfinch - Loxigilla noctis Puerto Rican Bullfinch - Loxigilla portoricensis Greater Antillean Bullfinch - Loxigilla violacea Yellow-shouldered Grassquit - Loxipasser anoxanthus St Lucia Black Finch - Melanospiza richardsoni Cuban Bullfinch - Melopyrrha nigra Prevost's Ground-sparrow - Melozone biarcuata Rusty-crowned Ground-sparrow - Melozone kieneri White-eared Ground-sparrow - Melozone leucotis Striped Sparrow - Oriturus superciliosus Lesser Seed-finch - Oryzoborus angolensis Large-billed Seed-finch - Oryzoborus crassirostris Thick-billed Seed-finch - Oryzoborus funereus Nicaraguan Seed-finch - Oryzoborus nuttingi Yellow-billed Cardinal - Paroaria capitata Red-capped Cardinal - Paroaria gularis Large-footed Finch - Pezopetes capitalis Cocos Finch - Pinaroloxias inornata Abert's Towhee - Pipilo aberti White-throated Towhee - Pipilo albicollis Green-tailed Towhee - Pipilo chlorurus California Towhee - Pipilo crissalis Canyon Towhee - Pipilo fuscus Spotted Towhee - Pipilo maculatus Collared Towhee - Pipilo ocai Yellow-green Finch - Pselliophorus luteoviridis Yellow-thighed Finch - Pselliophorus tibialis Orange-fronted Yellow-finch - Sicalis columbiana Grassland Yellow-finch - Sicalis luteola Black-chinned Sparrow - Spizella atrogularis Brewer's Sparrow - Spizella breweri Worthen's Sparrow - Spizella wortheni Wing-barred Seedeater - Sporophila americana Lesson's Seedeater - Sporophila bouvronides Gray Seedeater - Sporophila intermedia Lined Seedeater - Sporophila lineola Ruddy-breasted Seedeater - Sporophila minuta Yellow-bellied Seedeater - Sporophila nigricollis Slate-colored Seedeater - Sporophila schistacea White-collared Seedeater - Sporophila torqueola Black-faced Grassquit - Tiaris bicolor Cuban Grassquit - Tiaris canorus Sooty Grassquit - Tiaris fuliginosus Yellow-faced Grassquit - Tiaris olivaceus Cuban Sparrow - Torreornis inexpectata Blue-black Grassquit - Volatinia jacarina Sierra Madre Sparrow - Xenospiza baileyi Golden-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia atricapilla Rufous-collared Sparrow - Zonotrichia capensis Harris's Sparrow - Zonotrichia querula
North/Central American Species
Peg-billed Finch - Acanthidops bairdii Bachman's Sparrow - Aimophila aestivalis Botteri's Sparrow - Aimophila botterii Rufous-winged Sparrow - Aimophila carpalis Cassin's Sparrow - Aimophila cassinii Black-chested Sparrow - Aimophila humeralis Bridled Sparrow - Aimophila mystacalis Oaxaca Sparrow - Aimophila notosticta Five-striped Sparrow - Aimophila quinquestriata Rusty Sparrow - Aimophila rufescens Stripe-headed Sparrow - Aimophila ruficauda Rufous-crowned Sparrow - Aimophila ruficeps Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow - Aimophila sumichrasti Baird's Sparrow - Ammodramus bairdii Le Conte's Sparrow - Ammodramus leconteii Sage Sparrow - Amphispiza belli Black-throated Sparrow - Amphispiza bilineata Orange-billed Sparrow - Arremon aurantiirostris Chestnut-capped Brush-finch - Arremon brunneinucha Sooty-faced Finch - Arremon crassirostris Stripe-headed Brush-finch - Arremon torquatus Green-striped Brush-finch - Arremon virenticeps Green-backed Sparrow - Arremonops chloronotus Black-striped Sparrow - Arremonops conirostris Olive Sparrow - Arremonops rufivirgatus White-naped Brush-finch - Atlapetes albinucha Rufous-capped Brush-finch - Atlapetes pileatus Lark Bunting - Calamospiza melanocorys Pine Bunting - Emberiza leucocephalos Pallas's Bunting - Emberiza pallasi Little Bunting - Emberiza pusilla Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus

Other Species Around the World
Peg-billed Finch - Acanthidops bairdii Bachman's Sparrow - Aimophila aestivalis Botteri's Sparrow - Aimophila botterii Rufous-winged Sparrow - Aimophila carpalis Cassin's Sparrow - Aimophila cassinii Black-chested Sparrow - Aimophila humeralis Bridled Sparrow - Aimophila mystacalis Oaxaca Sparrow - Aimophila notosticta Five-striped Sparrow - Aimophila quinquestriata Rusty Sparrow - Aimophila rufescens Stripe-headed Sparrow - Aimophila ruficauda Rufous-crowned Sparrow - Aimophila ruficeps Tumbes Sparrow - Aimophila stolzmanni Stripe-capped Sparrow - Aimophila strigiceps Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow - Aimophila sumichrasti Yellow-browed Sparrow - Ammodramus aurifrons Baird's Sparrow - Ammodramus bairdii Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow - Ammodramus caudacutus Henslow's Sparrow - Ammodramus henslowii Grassland Sparrow - Ammodramus humeralis Le Conte's Sparrow - Ammodramus leconteii Seaside Sparrow - Ammodramus maritimus Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow - Ammodramus nelsoni Grasshopper Sparrow - Ammodramus savannarum Sage Sparrow - Amphispiza belli Black-throated Sparrow - Amphispiza bilineata Black-capped Sparrow - Arremon abeillei Orange-billed Sparrow - Arremon aurantiirostris Chestnut-capped Brush-finch - Arremon brunneinucha Olive Finch - Arremon castaneiceps Sooty-faced Finch - Arremon crassirostris Saffron-billed Sparrow - Arremon flavirostris Sao Francisco Sparrow - Arremon franciscanus Golden-winged Sparrow - Arremon schlegeli Half-collared Sparrow - Arremon semitorquatus Pectoral Sparrow - Arremon taciturnus Stripe-headed Brush-finch - Arremon torquatus Green-striped Brush-finch - Arremon virenticeps Green-backed Sparrow - Arremonops chloronotus Black-striped Sparrow - Arremonops conirostris Olive Sparrow - Arremonops rufivirgatus Tocuyo Sparrow - Arremonops tocuyensis White-headed Brush-finch - Atlapetes albiceps White-naped Brush-finch - Atlapetes albinucha Moustached Brush-finch - Atlapetes albofrenatus Antioquia Brush Finch - Atlapetes blancae Gray Brush-finch - Atlapetes canigenis Yellow-striped Brush-finch - Atlapetes citrinellus Yellow-headed Brush-finch - Atlapetes flaviceps Apurimac Brush-finch - Atlapetes forbesi Fulvous-headed Brush-finch - Atlapetes fulviceps Dusky-headed Brush-finch - Atlapetes fuscoolivaceus Yellow-breasted Brush-finch - Atlapetes latinuchus White-rimmed Brush-finch - Atlapetes leucopis White-winged Brush-finch - Atlapetes leucopterus Santa Marta Brush-finch - Atlapetes melanocephalus Black-faced Brush-finch - Atlapetes melanolaemus Black-spectacled Brush-finch - Atlapetes melanopsis Rusty-bellied Brush-finch - Atlapetes nationi Pale-headed Brush-finch - Atlapetes pallidiceps Pale-naped Brush-finch - Atlapetes pallidinucha Tepui Brush-finch - Atlapetes personatus Rufous-capped Brush-finch - Atlapetes pileatus Rufous-eared Brush-finch - Atlapetes rufigenis Rufous-naped Brush-finch - Atlapetes rufinucha Slaty Brush-finch - Atlapetes schistaceus Bay-crowned Brush-finch - Atlapetes seebohmi Ochre-breasted Brush-finch - Atlapetes semirufus Vilcabamba Brush-finch - Atlapetes terborghi Tricolored Brush-finch - Atlapetes tricolor Lark Bunting - Calamospiza melanocorys Mangrove Finch - Camarhynchus heliobates Woodpecker Finch - Camarhynchus pallidus Small Tree-finch - Camarhynchus parvulus Medium Tree-finch - Camarhynchus pauper Large Tree-finch - Camarhynchus psittacula Band-tailed Seedeater - Catamenia analis Paramo Seedeater - Catamenia homochroa Plain-colored Seedeater - Catamenia inornata Warbler Finch - Certhidea olivacea Coal-crested Finch - Charitospiza eucosma Lark Sparrow - Chondestes grammacus Black-masked Finch - Coryphaspiza melanotis Red-crested Finch - Coryphospingus cucullatus Pileated Finch - Coryphospingus pileatus Common Diuca-finch - Diuca diuca White-winged Diuca-finch - Diuca speculifera White-naped Seedeater - Dolospingus fringilloides Long-tailed Reed-finch - Donacospiza albifrons Brown-rumped Bunting - Emberiza affinis Yellow-breasted Bunting - Emberiza aureola Red-headed Bunting - Emberiza bruniceps Gray-necked Bunting - Emberiza buchanani Cabanis's Bunting - Emberiza cabanisi Cretzschmar's Bunting - Emberiza caesia Cape Bunting - Emberiza capensis Yellow-browed Bunting - Emberiza chrysophrys Rock Bunting - Emberiza cia Cinereous Bunting - Emberiza cineracea Meadow Bunting - Emberiza cioides Cirl Bunting - Emberiza cirlus Yellowhammer - Emberiza citrinella Yellow-throated Bunting - Emberiza elegans African Golden-breasted Bunting - Emberiza flaviventris Chestnut-eared Bunting - Emberiza fucata Godlewski's Bunting - Emberiza godlewskii Ortolan Bunting - Emberiza hortulana Lark-like Bunting - Emberiza impetuani Rufous-backed Bunting - Emberiza jankowskii Tibetan Bunting - Emberiza koslowi Pine Bunting - Emberiza leucocephalos Black-headed Bunting - Emberiza melanocephala Pallas's Bunting - Emberiza pallasi Somali Golden-breasted Bunting - Emberiza poliopleura Little Bunting - Emberiza pusilla Rustic Bunting - Emberiza rustica Chestnut Bunting - Emberiza rutila Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus Socotra Bunting - Emberiza socotrana Black-faced Bunting - Emberiza spodocephala Chestnut-breasted Bunting - Emberiza stewarti House Bunting - Emberiza striolata Yellow Bunting - Emberiza sulphurata Cinnamon-breasted Bunting - Emberiza tahapisi Tristram's Bunting - Emberiza tristrami Gray Bunting - Emberiza variabilis Ochre-rumped Bunting - Emberiza yessoensis Duida Grass-finch - Emberizoides duidae Wedge-tailed Grass-finch - Emberizoides herbicola Gray-cheeked Grass-finch - Emberizoides ypiranganus Pale-throated Pampa-finch - Embernagra longicauda Great Pampa-finch - Embernagra platensis Orangequit - Euneornis campestris Large Cactus-finch - Geospiza conirostris Sharp-beaked Ground-finch - Geospiza difficilis Medium Ground-finch - Geospiza fortis Small Ground-finch - Geospiza fuliginosa Large Ground-finch - Geospiza magnirostris Common Cactus-finch - Geospiza scandens Yellow Cardinal - Gubernatrix cristata Slaty Finch - Haplospiza rustica Uniform Finch - Haplospiza unicolor Short-tailed Finch - Idiopsar brachyurus Buff-bridled Inca-finch - Incaspiza laeta Gray-winged Inca-finch - Incaspiza ortizi Rufous-backed Inca-finch - Incaspiza personata Great Inca-finch - Incaspiza pulchra Little Inca-finch - Incaspiza watkinsi Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis Yellow-eyed Junco - Junco phaeonotus Volcano Junco - Junco vulcani		Slaty Bunting - Latoucheornis siemsseni Gray-crested Finch - Lophospingus griseocristatus Black-crested Finch - Lophospingus pusillus Greater Antillean Bullfinch - Loxigilla violacea Yellow-shouldered Grassquit - Loxipasser anoxanthus White-bridled Finch - Melanodera melanodera Yellow-bridled Finch - Melanodera xanthogramma St Lucia Black Finch - Melanospiza richardsoni Crested Bunting - Melophus lathami Cuban Bullfinch - Melopyrrha nigra Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana Lincoln's Sparrow - Melospiza lincolnii Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia Prevost's Ground-sparrow - Melozone biarcuata Rusty-crowned Ground-sparrow - Melozone kieneri White-eared Ground-sparrow - Melozone leucotis Corn Bunting - Miliaria calandra Nesospiza acunhae Nightingale Bunting - Nesospiza questi Nesospiza wilkinsi Tanager Finch - Oreothraupis arremonops Striped Sparrow - Oriturus superciliosus Lesser Seed-finch - Oryzoborus angolensis Black-billed Seed-finch - Oryzoborus atrirostris Large-billed Seed-finch - Oryzoborus crassirostris Thick-billed Seed-finch - Oryzoborus funereus Great-billed Seed-finch - Oryzoborus maximiliani Nicaraguan Seed-finch - Oryzoborus nuttingi Crimson-fronted Cardinal - Paroaria baeri Yellow-billed Cardinal - Paroaria capitata Red-crested Cardinal - Paroaria coronata Red-cowled Cardinal - Paroaria dominicana Red-capped Cardinal - Paroaria gularis Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis Fox Sparrow - Passerella iliaca Large-footed Finch - Pezopetes capitalis Band-tailed Sierra-finch - Phrygilus alaudinus Black-hooded Sierra-finch - Phrygilus atriceps Carbonated Sierra-finch - Phrygilus carbonarius Red-backed Sierra-finch - Phrygilus dorsalis White-throated Sierra-finch - Phrygilus erythronotus Mourning Sierra-finch - Phrygilus fruticeti Gray-hooded Sierra-finch - Phrygilus gayi Patagonian Sierra-finch - Phrygilus patagonicus Ash-breasted Sierra-finch - Phrygilus plebejus Peruvian Sierra-finch - Phrygilus punensis Plumbeous Sierra-finch - Phrygilus unicolor Cinereous Finch - Piezorhina cinerea Cocos Finch - Pinaroloxias inornata Abert's Towhee - Pipilo aberti White-throated Towhee - Pipilo albicollis Green-tailed Towhee - Pipilo chlorurus California Towhee - Pipilo crissalis Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus Canyon Towhee - Pipilo fuscus Spotted Towhee - Pipilo maculatus Collared Towhee - Pipilo ocai Vegetarian Finch - Platyspiza crassirostris Vesper Sparrow - Pooecetes gramineus Plain-tailed Warbling-finch - Poospiza alticola Bolivian Warbling-finch - Poospiza boliviana Poospiza cabanisi Chestnut-breasted Mountain-finch - Poospiza caesar Cinereous Warbling-finch - Poospiza cinerea Rusty-browed Warbling-finch - Poospiza erythrophrys Collared Warbling-finch - Poospiza hispaniolensis Rufous-sided Warbling-finch - Poospiza hypochondria Poospiza lateralis Black-capped Warbling-finch - Poospiza melanoleuca Black-and-rufous Warbling-finch - Poospiza nigrorufa Cinnamon Warbling-finch - Poospiza ornata Rufous-breasted Warbling-finch - Poospiza rubecula Bay-chested Warbling-finch - Poospiza thoracica Ringed Warbling-finch - Poospiza torquata Blue Finch - Porphyrospiza caerulescens Yellow-green Finch - Pselliophorus luteoviridis Yellow-thighed Finch - Pselliophorus tibialis Crimson-breasted Finch - Rhodospingus cruentus Gough Bunting - Rowettia goughensis Many-colored Chaco-finch - Saltatricula multicolor Greater Yellow-finch - Sicalis auriventris Stripe-tailed Yellow-finch - Sicalis citrina Orange-fronted Yellow-finch - Sicalis columbiana Saffron Finch - Sicalis flaveola Patagonian Yellow-finch - Sicalis lebruni Puna Yellow-finch - Sicalis lutea Citron-headed Yellow-finch - Sicalis luteocephala Grassland Yellow-finch - Sicalis luteola Greenish Yellow-finch - Sicalis olivascens Raimondi's Yellow-finch - Sicalis raimondii Sulphur-throated Finch - Sicalis taczanowskii Bright-rumped Yellow-finch - Sicalis uropygialis American Tree Sparrow - Spizelloides arborea Black-chinned Sparrow - Spizella atrogularis Brewer's Sparrow - Spizella breweri Clay-colored Sparrow - Spizella pallida Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina Field Sparrow - Spizella pusilla Worthen's Sparrow - Spizella wortheni White-throated Seedeater - Sporophila albogularis Wing-barred Seedeater - Sporophila americana Dubois's Seedeater - Sporophila ardesiaca Capped Seedeater - Sporophila bouvreuil Lesson's Seedeater - Sporophila bouvronides Double-collared Seedeater - Sporophila caerulescens Chestnut-bellied Seedeater - Sporophila castaneiventris Chestnut Seedeater - Sporophila cinnamomea Rusty-collared Seedeater - Sporophila collaris Variable Seedeater - Sporophila corvina Temminck's Seedeater - Sporophila falcirostris Buffy-fronted Seedeater - Sporophila frontalis Rufous-rumped Seedeater - Sporophila hypochroma Tawny-bellied Seedeater - Sporophila hypoxantha Gray Seedeater - Sporophila intermedia White-bellied Seedeater - Sporophila leucoptera Lined Seedeater - Sporophila lineola Black-and-white Seedeater - Sporophila luctuosa Black-bellied Seedeater - Sporophila melanogaster Hooded Seedeater - Sporophila melanops Ruddy-breasted Seedeater - Sporophila minuta Caqueta Seedeater - Sporophila murallae Yellow-bellied Seedeater - Sporophila nigricollis Black-and-tawny Seedeater - Sporophila nigrorufa Marsh Seedeater - Sporophila palustris Parrot-billed Seedeater - Sporophila peruviana Plumbeous Seedeater - Sporophila plumbea Dark-throated Seedeater - Sporophila ruficollis Slate-colored Seedeater - Sporophila schistacea Drab Seedeater - Sporophila simplex Chestnut-throated Seedeater - Sporophila telasco White-collared Seedeater - Sporophila torqueola Black-faced Grassquit - Tiaris bicolor Cuban Grassquit - Tiaris canorus Sooty Grassquit - Tiaris fuliginosus Dull-colored Grassquit - Tiaris obscurus Yellow-faced Grassquit - Tiaris olivaceus Cuban Sparrow - Torreornis inexpectata Black-backed Bush-finch - Urothraupis stolzmanni Blue-black Grassquit - Volatinia jacarina Slender-billed Finch - Xenospingus concolor Sierra Madre Sparrow - Xenospiza baileyi White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis Golden-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia atricapilla Rufous-collared Sparrow - Zonotrichia capensis White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys Harris's Sparrow - Zonotrichia querula

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