The Masked Bunting is a small East Asian bird that was once grouped with the Black-faced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala). It breeds in Japan and nearby islands, so U.S. birders would generally need to travel to East Asia to see it in the wild.
Appearance
Appearance
A male has a greenish gray head, a dark patch near the bill, and a yellowish underside with streaks. Females are browner and less boldly marked.
Where it lives
Typical habitats
Woodland edges
Thickets
Range
It occurs in Japan, Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands. It is not a regular bird of the United States.
Behavior
Diet
In Japan, it eats seeds for much of the year and more insects during the breeding season.
Name and classification
About the name
It was once called Emberiza spodocephala personata, a of the Black-faced Bunting.