Red-headed Bunting

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Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Open ground (very rare).
Diet: Seeds.
Best time to spot: Brick-red head.

When to look

A rare visitor, not a resident. There is no dependable season, though most rarities are found during spring and autumn migration. More on the season in Rare birds in the UK.

How rare is it?

The Red-headed Bunting sits in our Legendary tier for the UK: a major rarity, where any record is big news. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Black-faced BuntingLegendary · Coastal scrub (very rare vagrant)
• Pallas's BuntingLegendary · Marsh scrub (very rare)
• Pine BuntingLegendary · Stubble (very rare vagrant)
• Yellow-breasted BuntingLegendary · Wet scrub (very rare)
• Yellow-browed BuntingLegendary · Coastal scrub (very rare)
• Rustic BuntingRare · Coastal scrub (very rare)

Kit that helps

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