Cinnamon-breasted Bunting / Rock Bunting

Afrikaans name: Klipstreepkoppie

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Photo © Steven Herbert

Emberiza tahapisi

Although this species is not as pretty as its cousing, the Golden-breasted Bunting, the Cinnamon-breasted Bunting is still an attractive species. Male and female are similar in colour but the male has more black on its head and throat than the female.

This species is common over most of South Africa but is absent from coastal and arid regions. It is often seen on the ground in areas with sparse grass, as well as savanna and woodland.

The Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, which is also known as the Rock Bunting, feeds on seeds and insects which it finds on the ground. It does sometimes take termite alates in flight.

They make their nest on the ground near the cover of a rock or clump of grass. The nest is sometimes placed in a crack in some rocks. Between 2 and 4 eggs are laid and both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks.

The female has less extensive black than the male

Photo © Steven Herbert

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References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 329

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 19

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 19

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 228

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 123

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 277

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 77

Everyone's Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 84

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 228

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Year Published: 2004 - Page: 189

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 330

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 442

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 442

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 372

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 602

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 615

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 790

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 790

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 410

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 446

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 52

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 188

List of South African Birds