Description:

Small to medium-sized or rather large bunting, variable both in body size and in bill size. Male has black head and white submoustachial stripe; obscured by fringes when fresh. Female has buff supercilium, brown ear-coverts, and dark moustachial and malar stripes reach bill (compare with Little).

Distribution:

Uncommon passage migrant through the central parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, mainly in Hunza, Gilgit and Diamer. Generally in marshy areas where areas of scrubby growth occurs around reeds and wetlands up to 3000m. Also bogs, riversides and inland waters.

Behavior:

Forages mostly on ground, also in low vegetation. In winter large-billed races extract invertebrates from inside reed stems, a foraging technique that allows them to remain in areas of extreme cold. During breeding season mostly invertebrates; diet otherwise mainly seeds and other plant material. Large-billed races mostly insectivorous all year.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Reed Bunting in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Reed Bunting

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.