Sparrows and Buntings

Species of buntings of the genus Emberiza do not breed in North America, but are relatively diverse in Eurasia and Africa. In fact, of the 40 species of enberizids breeding in the Old World, 37 are in the genus Emberiza. One widespread species is the yellow-hammer (Emberiza citrinella), a familiar, yellow-bellied bird of forest edges and shrubby habitats. The reed bunting (E. schoeniclus) is a black-headed, brown-backed species of marshy habitats and wet meadows.