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PLATE 114: GROSBEAK AND BUNTINGS I
Arabian Golden-winged Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus percivali rb
L: 15. Plump, sparrow-sized finch with very stout blackish bill. Easily identified by white cheeks
and yellow patches in wings and tail. Female differs from male in having duller plumage without
blackish area around base of bill. Juvenile has brownish head and prominently streaked upper- and
underparts. Often in loose groups and can be inactive, sitting unobtrusively amongst branches.
Bounding flight, often flies some distance if disturbed. Voice Liquid, discordant song often starts
with whit-whee-oo or tvit-te-vyt-te-vict, repeated and interspersed with European Goldfinch-like
notes, often in fluttering, bat-like, display flight. Varied calls include wink, and soft, Goldfinch-
like, tlyit-tlyit. Habitat Hillsides and wadis with euphorbias, acacias and other fruit-bearing trees,
250–2000m. Note Mostly a scarce resident in Dhofar mountains, but moves according to food
availability.Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra pm, wv
L: 18. Bulky with fairly large head, large conical bill and no white in tail. Underparts heavily
streaked, often merging into irregular black patch on breast; often pale submoustachial stripe and
variable ill-defined malar streak. Heavy, rather fluttering flight, legs often dangling; lacks white
on trailing edge of wings shown by Skylark, with which it can be confused in flight. Often perches
on telegraph wires or bush-top; flocks outside breeding season. Voice Song, often from exposed
perch, accelerates, ending with monotonous almost insect-like sound tick-tick-tzek- zee-zri-zizizizi.
Calls single hard, almost clicking twik or tritt, sometimes quickly strung together in series. Habitat
Open farmland, irrigated grasslands, bushy areas. Note Passage and winter hatched.Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephala V
L: 16.5. Similar to Ortolan Bunting in build and size. Male’s black-bordered white patch on crown
and cheeks in otherwise chestnut head and throat diagnostic (subdued in winter). Grey-brown
female has streaked crown, mantle, breast and flanks, and chestnut rump; some show a little
whitish on crown and chestnut on whitish throat. Many females, and all first-autumn birds,
resemble Yellowhammer (illustrated for comparison), but yellow in plumage replaced by white,
including belly and fringes to primaries; lesser coverts more uniform grey-brown and bill more
frequently bicoloured than Yellowhammer (dark grey upper, pale grey lower mandible). Voice
Metallic, sharp staeup; also a nervous trr-rrr-rrr-ick. Habitat Farmland, open country with bushes.
Note Vagrant Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE.Striolated Bunting Emberiza striolata RB
L: 14. Small rufous-coloured bunting with orange-yellow lower mandible (adult) and rufous-
edged outer tail feathers; streaks on upperparts and wing-coverts thin and vague. Typical male
has head striped dark ash-grey and white, in some individuals poorly defined; throat and upper
breast are steel-grey with black speckles; upperparts, wing-coverts, lower breast and belly
bright rufous. Female duller with more diffuse head pattern. Often fairly shy. Voice Song wi-di-dji-
du-wi-di-dii or witch witch a wee. Calls include squeaky tzswee, nasal dwiib; dweek and sweee-doo.
Habitat Oases, desolate rocky wadis and hills with little vegetation. Nests in hole in building, wall
or rock crevice. Note Common resident in N Oman; less common in S Oman. Vagrant Bahrain, Qatar.Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi RB
L: 16.5. Medium-sized with orange-yellow lower mandible, bold black streaks on upperparts
and rufous-edged outer tail feathers. Male has black throat and four white stripes over black
head. Female duller with less pure black-and-white head pattern. Juvenile resembles female but
head and throat grey-brown, latter flecked blackish onto upper breast; pale head-stripes buffier.
Best separated from slightly smaller Striolated Bunting by unstreaked dark throat, boldly streaked
upperparts and absence of rufous on mantle and wing-coverts. Often feeds in flocks. Voice
Song fast, short simple jingle dzit-dzit-dzi-re-ra or tru-tri-tre-ririr, second and last note higher in pitch;
song sometimes followed by scratchy notes. Calls soft metallic anh and a nasal daar; alarm a
short metallic ptik. Habitat Rocky hillsides with scattered vegetation, 300–2500m. Note Common
breeding resident in Dhofar mountains, S Oman. [Alt: African Rock Bunting]