Length: 5.5 inches | Wingspan: 8.5 inches | Seasonality: Non-resident in South Dakota |
ID Keys: Male: Dark chestnut upperparts, black head, yellow below with dark flank streaks, chestnut chest band |
The
Yellow-breasted Bunting is normally found in eastern Europe and Asia, but it
has been found on very rare occasions in islands off the west coast of
Alaska. It is a poorly-understood species. At the start of the
21st century, they were considered a species of "Least Concern" by the IUCN,
with no indications of widespread population issues. Since then, it
has become apparent that the species is in very rapid decline and
populations were not as large as once believed. Since 2004 the species
has moved from "Least Concern" to "Vulnerable" to "Endangered", on the IUCN
watch list. While some of the decline has been attributed to habitat
loss, particularly in their wintering range in southeast Asia where land has
been converted to intensive agricultural use, the majority of the decline is
likely due to direct capture of the birds. In parts of southeast Asia,
Yellow-breasted Buntings and other songbirds are caught in large numbers in
mist nets, and sold as food.
Click below for a higher-resolution map |
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South Dakota Status: Non-resident in South Dakota |