Black-headed Bunting

(Emberiza melanocephala)

Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern

Population size: 25 000 – 50 000 pairs

Distribution pattern

With patchy and dispersed distribution on most of the territory, more consistent in Southeastern Bulgaria and along the entire Black Sea coast and more fragmented in the lower parts in the rest of the country. Around the year 2005, the species reached the most northwestern part of Bulgaria in the region of the town of Vidin.

Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.

Habitats

Breeds mainly in scrub and grassland on exposed open hilly terrains, overgrown with grass, shrubs and single or groups of trees. Numerous in Sclerophyllous scrub, especially in combination with dry siliceous grasslands, sometimes on the edges of highly sparse low-stemmed broad-leaved deciduous forests. Also, breeds in various agricultural areas and artificial landscapes, showing a certain predilection for small arable fields, orchards, tree and shrub plantations, and especially vineyards mixed with shrubs and open grassy areas between them.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed