Bangladesh, Bhutan, China (mainland), Finland (B) (P), Hong Kong (China), India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway (B), Pakistan, Philippines, Russia (Asian) (B), Russia (Central Asian) (B), Russia (European) (B), South Korea, Sweden (B), Taiwan (China), Thailand, USA, Vietnam.
Vagrant to Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Faroe Islands, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran [Islamic Republic of], Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands Antilles, North Korea, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.
Breeds from north-eastern Norway, northern Sweden, north-eastern Finland and northern Russia eastern across Siberia and Russian Far East (north to mouth of Ob and Gydan Peninsula, to c. 75° on R Yenisey, and mouths of Indigirka, Kolyma and Anadyr) to Pacific, south to c. 60° northern in western and to middle R Yenisey, north of L Baikal, southern Yakutia and near R Arka on Okhotsk Sea coast. Winters in region from northern Indian Subcontinent east to northern and central Myanmar, northern Thailand, northern Indochina and southern China (south of R Yangtze).
Population
Estimated population is 30,000,000 - 100,000,000 (2010).
Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla) [XC168456]
by Tero Linjama from Sodankyl\u00e4, Pohjois-Lappi, Lapland, Finland (song)
Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla) [XC26686]
by Jan Hein van Steenis from Lusperbryggan, Porjus, Lappland, Sweden (song)
Nest
Usually in a tussock of grass, on the ground.
Eggs (Guide)
4 - 6; pale green with dark speckles and streaks.
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Sometimes placed in a separate genus, Ocyris. Recent phylogenetic study suggests that this species is closely related to Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica), Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola), Chestnut Bunting (Emberiza rutila), Yellow Bunting (Emberiza sulphurata) and Black-faced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala), forming a subclade with them. It has been suggested that they form a polytomous group of species, probably the result of a rapid, "simultaneous" radiation.
The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7
BirdLife International Species Factsheet