Black-headed Bunting (BBRC)

Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala

In their paper on the status of Red-headed Bunting in Britain, Vinicombe (2007) noted that Black-headed Bunting is predominantly a spring overshoot, with most records in late May and early June, and with a smaller autumn peak from late August to mid October which is consistent with the concept of reverse migration by first-winters in autumn. Unlike Red-headed Bunting, there was no marked upsurge in records of Black-headed Bunting during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s; the species maintained a fairly steady pattern of occurrence, averaging about three records a year, though with exceptions in 1992 (14), 1993 (11) and 2000 (15). Despite the occasional ‘suspect’ individual, records of this species are generally accepted as wild birds. In this context, it is noteworthy that the peak of records in late May and June is consistent with overshooting migrants. For example, in 1992 14 were reported, six of which arrived between June 4th-14th, five of them on Fair Isle. Likewise, in 1993 eight males turned up May 24th-Jun 2nd, seven of these along the south coast between Cornwall and Kent. 

Whilst adult males are one of the most easily recognisable of British vagrants, female and immatures remain one of the toughest identification challenges in British birding owing to their similarity to female and immature Red-heading Buntings (which incidentally is still retained in Category D of the British list after a recent BOURC review). Almost 70% of all British records since 1950 have been males, and almost 60% of those records were in May and June. Identifying the eye-catching males is no problem but separating 1CY females from 1CY Red-headed Buntings in autumn remains problematic and may easily escape detection. Several decades later, these two Lincolnshire birds remain the only County records.

Finder’s report:  Black-headed Bunting at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR, September 14th, 1974, first county record

by R. K. Norman.

Note: based on the account from the original BBRC submission. The RC report for 1974 expressed the surprising opinion that the origin of this bird might be contentious despite autumn records not being rare (and made up three out of the four in 1973) and indeed two more records for 1974 emerged and were published in the 1975 report - both in autumn ! (Portland, male, August 4th-6th and Fair Isle, female/immature, October 6th-7th). The four in 1974 brought the British total to 33 since 1950. 

Circumstances

At 11.00 hr. on September 14th, 1974, I was walking from the shore towards the dunes at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR with Mr. D. Harrison. When we were 50-60m. from the dunes, we heard a call which seemed unfamiliar, but due to distance and wind (E/SE 3) could not hear it well enough. The call stopped and we were not aware of it again until we had reached the dunes when the regular persistent ‘chit’ was traced to a bird on top of a Sea Buckthorn bush 8-10m. away. The call was vaguely reminiscent of one of the calls of House Sparrow, Passer domesticus, but higher pitched than that.

Although high, the sun was to our left and as the bird was ahead and slightly left of us, we started to move slowly round so as to be in a position for optimum viewing conditions. At this point the bird flew off away to the left joining two other small passerines which were not identified. It flew strongly and appeared to drop down into Buckthorn about 200m. to the south. We returned to the reserve car park intending to strike out across the reserve from there but whilst talking to A. Pearson and other young birdwatchers who had just arrived, I heard the call again and saw the bird perched at the top of a 5m. high Elder about 40m. away. I was pointing it out to the new arrivals when it flew off to the north and despite an immediate search was not relocated.

Description

Size and general appearance– similar size and build to Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella, but head and neck appeared heavier. The plumage was most distinctive though as the bird only remained on the bush for c. 20 sec. there was no time to write down a description while the bird was in view.

Head – most of the head was black, almost to the extent to that of a male Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, though the nape was not seen, the bird being in profile only whilst in view.

Underparts – were unmarked bright yellow and slightly deeper in shade than a Yellowhammer.

Upperparts – back and scapulars were warm brown/rusty, similar to the wing of a Whitethroat, Sylvia communis. The wings were browner, less rusty, but we did notice any wing bars. The tail was comparable in length to that of a Yellowhammer but due to the brevity of viewing time we could not check positively that there was no white in the feathers, though DH did not notice ant when the bird flew off.

Reference

Vinicombe, K.E.(2007). The status of Red-headed Bunting in Britain. British Birds 100 (9): 540-551. 

(Account prepared in January 2018; includes all records up to 2016)