Chestnut Bunting in France

[Brian S]

The image of a first-winter male Chestnut Bunting on Sein island http://www.surfbirds.com/media/gallery_photos/20091023101949.jpg is very interesting and gives hope that a first-winter may well turn up in the UK. The BOURC have fairly recently put Chestnut Bunting into category E; the two autumn records apparently fell outside the normal dates for far-eastern vagrants.

Comments on Red-headed Bunting (retained in Cat D) may well also apply to Chestnut Bunting: 'Red-headed Bunting is reportedly still in trade in the USA, but any British occurrence which presents little overt reason to suspect captive origin following the complete ban on the importation of wild-caught birds into the EU (effective from 1 July 2007) will be looked at very seriously.'

Brian S

[Paul Leader]

Are there more photos of this bird available?

It looks more like a juvenile from what I can see (being finely streaked on the super, crown and flanks). This would be unusual, as most Chestnut Buntings migrate in first-winter plumage. And what is going on with the tertials which are missing/misplaced on one side. I also think that the left outer tail feather is regrowing. If you zoom in it looks shorter, and more rounded than the typically very pointed tail feathers of a first-winter.

I would suggest that based on this single image there is much to suggest that this is an ex-captive bird.

[CAU]

A first-winter male Chestnut Bunting was recorded at Uusikaupunki at the Finnish west coast 30/9-1/10/2002 (and accepted into category A). It was also mostly in juv plumage:
http://www.bongariliitto.fi/kuvat/20_Varpuslinnut/20w_Sirkut/embrut_20020930_uuskau_alhpe/embrut.jpg
http://www.bongariliitto.fi/kuvat/20_Varpuslinnut/20w_Sirkut/embrut_20020930_uuskau_alhpe/rutila_03.jpg
http://www.bongariliitto.fi/kuvat/20_Varpuslinnut/20w_Sirkut/embrut_20020930_uuskau_alhpe/rutila_08.jpg
http://www.bongariliitto.fi/kuvat/20_Varpuslinnut/20w_Sirkut/embrut_20020930_uuskau_alhpe/rutila_16.jpg
http://www.bongariliitto.fi/kuvat/20_Varpuslinnut/20w_Sirkut/embrut_20020930_uuskau_alhpe/rutila_21.jpg
Coincidentally or not, a Two-barred Greenish Warbler was found on 2/10/2002, also at the Finnish west coast.

If you zoom in it looks shorter, and more rounded than the typically very pointed tail feathers of a first-winter.


Shouldn't also adult tail feathers be pointed on Chestnut Bunting?


Comments on Red-headed Bunting (retained in Cat D) may well also apply to Chestnut Bunting: 'Red-headed Bunting is reportedly still in trade in the USA, but any British occurrence which presents little overt reason to suspect captive origin following the complete ban on the importation of wild-caught birds into the EU (effective from 1 July 2007) will be looked at very seriously.'


A Red-headed Bunting or a hybrid was seen on Heligoland at 20/6/2009:
http://oag.orni-net.de/gallery/?action=gallery_picture_show&pic_id=705

[Paul Leader]

Yes, the tail feathers of adults are also pointed, but there is still a distinctive difference with the adult feathers being generally broader and notably less pointed at the very tip. There is also a tendency for the outer tail feather to have whiter 'wedges' in adults and for there to more white on the second outer most tail feather.

This is in fact well shown on the photos of the Finnish bird which has lost and replaced the four outer tail feathers on the right side of the tail.

Another juvenile in Western Europe with tail damage? Curious!

[CAU]

Yes, the tail feathers of adults are also pointed, but there is still a distinctive difference with the adult feathers being generally broader and notably less pointed at the very tip. There is also a tendency for the outer tail feather to have whiter 'wedges' in adults and for there to more white on the second outer most tail feather.


Thanks for the information. Svensson's passerine guide seems to be pretty outdated on this matter.

[Brian S]

Yep, thanks Paul. As ever, educational.

Brian S

[Paul Leader]

A nice photo of a first-winter male can be found at

http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/viewthread.php?tid=9362

This bird has replaced the central tail feather, but the rest are all juvenile.

[CAU]

A Chestnut Bunting was ringed today at Utsira in Norway:
http://www.artsobservasjoner.no/artportalen/gallery/Image.aspx?rappsyst=0&obsID=7951012&imageID=154812
As far as I can see, it is also mostly in juv plumage, but I believe that the date and location would still favour natural vagrancy. Perhaps aberrant moult and vagrancy may have a connection in this species?