Afghanistan (B), Bangladesh, China (mainland), India, Iran [Islamic Republic of] (B), Kazakhstan (B), Kyrgyzstan (B), Mongolia (B), Nepal, Pakistan, Russia (Asian) (B), Russia (Central Asian) (B), Russia (European) (B), Tajikistan (B), Turkmenistan (B), Uzbekistan (B).
Vagrant to Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kuwait, Netherlands Antilles, Norway, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Breeds from the Volgaâ€"Ural interfluve (southern from just north of Caspian Sea, c. 51º north) east through Kazakhstan to southern Altai Mts, western Mongolia and north-western China (Xinjiang), and south to north-eastern Iran, Turkmenistan, north-western and eastern Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Winters in India.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) [XC657416]
by Geoff Carey from , Kazakhstan (call)
Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) [XC22713]
by Ruud van Beusekom from Karaguma, Kazakhstan (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Forms a superspecies with Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala), and both sometimes placed in genus Granativora. Recent phylogenetic study indicates that they are closely related to Crested Bunting (Emberiza lathami). Hybridizes with Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) in area of Caspian Sea. This species has sometimes been referred to by name Emberiza icteria, but present name has priority.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet