Rock Bunting

(Emberiza cia)

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

Population size: 5000 – 8000 pairs

Distribution pattern

With patchy and dispersed distribution, more consistent in the mountains Rila-Rhodope Massif, Stara Planina, Vitosha, Strandzha and along the Northern Black Sea coast, with isolated breeding sites in the Danubian Plain, the Thracian Plain, etc.

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 on rocky sites with cliffs and exposed rocks, screes, often in combination with Sclerophyllous scrub and brush in places with temperate climates and less often on the edges of sparse deciduous forests, mixed forests and even coniferous forests. Along the Black Sea coast breeds on steep shores with bush vegetation. Often in clearings, burned out areas, karst terrains, stony pastures, etc.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed