Scarce passage migrant, usually in autumn, mainly to Fair Isle and other Scottish islands and north-east coast of England. Breeds in northern Russia and normally migrates south-east.
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).
 
Scandanavia and northern Russia during the summer, eastern China and Japan during the winter. An autumn passage migrant to Great Britain.
 
Population
Estimated population is 30,000,000 - 100,000,000 (2010).
Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla) [XC674980]
by Albert Lastukhin from Khonuu, Momskiy Natsional'nyy Ulus, Respublika Sakha (Yakutiya), Russian Federation (imitation, song, mimicry\/imitation)
Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla) [XC431678]
by Albert Lastukhin from Noyabrsk, Gorod Noyabr'sk, Yamalo-Nenetskiy, Russian Federation (song)
Breeding Season (Guide)
May - August in Scandinavia and Russia.
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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.
Similar Species
Non-breeding Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) which is larger, has a smaller bill, and a curved cumen.
Compare Images
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