Common Reed Bunting

Perches vertically on slender reeds.

Scientific name	Emberiza schoeniclus
English name	Common Reed Bunting
Japanese name	大寿林
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Emberizidae
Genus	Emberiza
Species	schoeniclus
Full length	14-18cm
Distribution	Breeds in the Tōhoku region and northward, and overwinters south of Honshu.

Common Reed Bunting Characteristics and Morphology

The entire body is reddish-brown. In winter, the entire body is the same reddish-brown with white mixed in. The winter plumage of males and females are very similar, but the color of the male's head changes in summer plumage.
The beak is triangular and lead-gray. The iris is black. The wings have black patterns. The abdomen is light brown. The tip of the tail is in a "W" shape.

Male

In summer plumage, the feathers from the head to the throat become black, and the area around the collar of the back of the head is white. In winter plumage, the color of the head is similar to that of the female, but some black may remain.

Female

The entire body is brown in both summer and winter plumage. It does not have black feathers mixed in like the male.

Song

Sings a short "chich-chich".

Common Reed Bunting Ecology

Habitat

Inhabits reedbeds. Lives in reedbeds near lakes and marshes.

Food

Eats insects and seeds.

Life Cycle

Breeds in early summer, building a cup-shaped nest at the base of grass.

Common Reed Bunting Photos

Common Reed Bunting Photos are introduced.
Tap the photo to open the detail page.

The body is reddish-brown, and the tail is "W"-shaped.

It was on the shore of the pond in Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park.

Peeling the bark of the reeds to look for insects.

Common Reed Bunting Behavior

Searches for insects by peeling the bark of reeds and other plants while making a "crackling" sound. Forms small flocks.

Common Reed Bunting Information

Naming

The scientific name "schoeniclus" means "living in reeds" and is derived from its habitat.

Common Reed Bunting Found Locations

Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park

Found on the shore of the pond in Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park. A flock of about four birds flew from reed to reed, peeling off the bark and searching for insects. At first, they were not visible, but I was able to find them by carefully searching for places where the reeds were shaking greatly. I was able to photograph them clinging vertically to the swaying, slender reeds while feeding.