Fun House Bunting Facts For Kids

Are you a bird lover and in search of some awesome birds like the red kite and chicken hawk? Then we have the perfect fit for you. We present the house bunting that is related to the bunting subspecies of the Emberizidae family.

Found near humans, these birds are mostly found in North Africa, which includes countries like Chad and other countries like Morocco. These small birds are omnivorous in nature and feed on both plants and animals. Though seeds are one of their staple diets, these tiny birds are also capable hunters and are known to hunt and prey on small insects and spiders. A wide range of buntings are found on our planet, and they are all subspecies that fall under the genus of Emberiza. These birds are listed as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN Red List.

Read on to learn more about this colorful species of bird. If you find our content interesting, then do check out lark bunting and little bunting!

What type of animal is a house bunting?

The house bunting (Emberiza sahari) is a species of bird that belongs to the Emberizidae family.

What class of animal does a house bunting belong to? 

Just like all other species of birds of the world, the house bunting bird belongs to the class of Aves of the Animalia Kingdom.

How many house buntings are there in the world?

The exact number of house buntings that are present on the planet is yet to be quantified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN Red List. However, it has been assumed that the numbers are greater than 10000 mature individuals. Since it is a species of Least Concern and the population trend in recent years shows a significant increase in the number of species, there is no imminent threat to this species. However, human activities like habitat destruction, climate change can lead to potential harm for these birds.

Where does a house bunting live? 

The distribution of this bird species is mainly the continent of Africa, especially in the north. These avian creatures can be predominantly found in northern Morocco, Chad, and Mauritania.

What is a house bunting's habitat? 

This species prefer to live in rocky mountainous areas that are near water. They can also be found near natural rock outcrops. These birds dwell at a high altitude and can be found at a range of 7546 ft (2300 m) in the Alps range. The habitat of painted buntings, which include shrublands and savanna, are different from the habitat of common buntings.

Who do house buntings live with?

Not much is known about the social life of the house bunting (Emberiza sahari), but we can make an assumption based on the social lifestyle of buntings. Buntings prefer staying in pairs or in small groups rather than living in large flocks.

How long does a house bunting live?

Owing to very limited data and research on this species, the exact lifespan of the house bunting is unknown. However, buntings, like the painted bunting, are known to live for roughly around 10 years in the wild.

How do they reproduce?

These birds are monogamous birds and they have a single mating partner throughout the breeding season. The mating season is assumed to take place primarily in the months of February to July. These are territorial birds, and the male species are known to attract females by singing songs. Sexual maturity is usually attained in about a year. The nest-building procedure is, however, done by the female in which the male often assists by bringing in twigs and leaves. Two to four eggs are laid and during the nesting period of 17-19 days, both parents take turns in feeding the chicks.

What is their conservation status?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN Red List has placed the house bunting as a species of Least Concern. The population trend also shows a significant increase in the population over the recent years. However, it should be kept in mind that human activities like habitat destruction and climate change play a vital role in the depletion of this species, and proper conservation and protective steps should be undertaken.

What do house buntings look like?

These birds are known to have a gray head along with a significant head pattern. The underparts of the body, along with the wings, are of rusty color. The males have a gray head with the ear coverts being white. The females are dull in color and their head has a brown hue. As for the juveniles, these little ones are even dull in color than the females.

How cute are they?

These little birds are often deemed cute by all nature lovers. Bird lovers and ornithologists are bound to find this bird species to be extremely adorable.

How do they communicate?

The male bird is known to sing a song before the breeding season to attract a female mating partner. The song consists of low-pitched notes that are repeated in two to three regular intervals.

How big is a house bunting? 

These birds have a length of 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm). In comparison with the fox sparrow 5.9-7.5 in (15-19.05 cm), we can say that the latter is slightly larger in size.

How fast can a house bunting move?

Owing to very limited data and research, the exact speed at which the house bunting flies is currently unknown. However, we can make an assumption based on the speed of a few bunting species. The Indigo bunting is known to travel at speeds of around 20 mph (32.1 kph).

How much does a house bunting weigh?

These birds weigh around 0.4-0.6 oz (11.3-17 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Just like any other species of birds, male birds are known as cocks, while their female counterparts are referred to as hens.

What would you call a baby house bunting?

Baby birds are known as chicks, and in the case of a baby house bunting, it will be known as a house bunting chick.

What do they eat? 

These birds are omnivorous animals, meaning they are birds that feed on plants and animals. The majority of the diet of these animals includes food like seeds, berries, and small insects like spiders. In search of food, these birds are also known to forage food items like seeds from the ground in urban areas.

Are they dangerous?

There is no evidence that suggests that this tiny bird is dangerous. These birds pose no harm to humans or other animals that live near them.

Would they make a good pet?

Though different species of buntings of the Emberizidae family are good pets, it wouldn't be a good idea to keep the house bunting as a pet. These are birds that live in the wild and prefer to reside in rocky hilltops and on mountains.

Did you know...

These birds have been split from the striolated bunting, which is closely related and was classified under the same subspecies.

Where do house buntings nest?

These birds don't build their nests on trees. These birds prefer staying close to humans, and as a result, the nest of these birds can often be found in walls and on buildings.

Which bunting bird is the most colorful?

Though the Plectrophenax nivalis, also known as the snow bunting, is the most brightly colored bird of this family, the title of the most colorful bird goes to the painted bunting.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these giant cowbird facts and ani bird facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable bird coloring pages.

Main image by Mike Prince from Bangalore, India