Little Bunting
VU

Little Bunting

Emberiza pusilla

UnknownVUNPLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_bunting

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Little Bunting faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive agricultural practices across its breeding and wintering ranges, with pesticide use and habitat conversion eliminating crucial foraging areas. Climate change is altering the timing of insect emergence in its Arctic breeding grounds, creating mismatches with peak chick-rearing periods. Trapping for the illegal songbird trade in parts of Southeast Asia adds additional pressure to already declining populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Little Bunting breeds in open taiga, forest edges, and scrubland with scattered trees across northern Eurasia, preferring areas with dense ground vegetation for nesting. During winter, it inhabits grasslands, agricultural areas, and open woodlands from India through Southeast Asia to southern China.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Emberizidae

YellowhammerVU

Yellowhammer

Emberiza citrinella

Unknown
Ortolan BuntingCR

Ortolan Bunting

Emberiza hortulana

Unknown
Reed BuntingEN

Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus

Unknown
Rustic BuntingVU

Rustic Bunting

Emberiza rustica

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Little Bunting classified as Vulnerable?
Little Bunting is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Little Bunting faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive agricultural practices across its breeding and wintering ranges, with pesticide use and habitat conversion eliminating crucial foraging areas. Climate change is altering the timing of insect emergence in its Arctic breeding grounds, creating mismatches with peak chick-rearing periods. Trapping for the illegal songbird trade in parts of Southeast Asia adds additional pressure to already declining populations.
Where does Little Bunting live?
Little Bunting occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Little Bunting?
The main threats to Little Bunting are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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