Animalia Life

Emberiza cia
TAXONOMY
Emberiza cia Linnaeus, 1766, Austria. Ten subspecies.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Bruant fou; German: Zippammer; Spanish: Escribano Montesino.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
6.3 in (16 cm); 0.7–0.9 oz (20–25 g). Sexes differ in color. Males have a gray, black, and white patterned head with a gray throat, a chestnut-streaked back, a rufous breast, belly, and rump, and a white-edged tail. Females and juveniles are much duller.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds from southern France and southern Germany south to Spain, Portugal, North Africa, Italy, and Greece, Turkey, north and central Iran, southern Turkistan, northwest India, western Himalayas, and western Nepal. Some birds move south or to lower elevation in winter.
HABITAT
Inhabit dry, rocky hillsides, and, in winter, weedy or grassy areas with hedges and trees. They often roost in trees.
BEHAVIOR
Territorial during breeding season. They defend their territory with song, which is emitted from a perch on the top of a bush or rock. Outside of the breeding season they occur singly or in small groups. Wintering flocks form in late summer and may contain other Emberiza species.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Primarily feed on the ground among rocks and shrubs. In summer they take insects and other invertebrates (including small snails), as well as seeds. Winter diet is principally seeds, which they find in pastures, cultivated land, and gardens.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Monogamous. Eggs are laid from May through July. The nest is placed on or close to the ground and is well concealed in vegetation. They lay three to six (usually four to five) eggs; incubation lasts 12–14 days, and young fledge at 10–13 days of age. Both parents feed the young.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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