Crested bunting (Melophus lathami) Yuvaraaj – complete detail

Crested bunting (Melophus lathami) Yuvaraaj – complete detail. Crested bunting (Melophus lathami) complete detail. Classification of Crested bunting (Melophus lathami). Habit and habitat of Crested bunting. Crested bunting generally found in Open, bush and rock-covered mountainsides, open country sometimes also cultivation. The call is a soft, somewhat squeaky, repeated tip or tup, monotonous song, which is more emphatic in flight. Breeding takes place sometime between April and August, coinciding with local wet season…………….

Distribution of Crested bunting. Local name of Crested bunting (Melophus lathami) is Yuvaraaj. Female is paler and browner than male, with shorter crest and less chestnut in wings and tail. The tail is browner with considerably less chestnut in females than in males of the same age. There is never any white in the tail. The belly is brown and lacks the bluish gloss…………

Breeds on open hillsides, dry rocky slopes and open cultivation, with grass and sparse scrubs, sometimes with scattered trees. The nest is placed on the ground, under a rock or bush or in crevices or under roots on steep banks, walls or precipitous slopes. The nest is a nest cup of woven grass, moss, fibrous plant stems and thin rootlets, lined with fine grass and animal hair.

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Description

Local name of  Crested bunting is Yuvaraaj. Size of Crested bunting is between 15 cm to 17 cm including the tail. Male striking glossy black plumage, with long, pointed crest and chestnut wings and tail.

Immature males are variable, some resembling adult male, but duller, streaked on the upper parts and heavily blotched below, with wings and tail browner, less deep chestnut.

Female is paler and browner than male, with shorter crest and less chestnut in wings and tail. Female upper parts are olive-brown above, underparts are paler olive-brown, streaked darker, rufous in wings distinctive, buffy-yellow below, streaked dark on breast, darkish moustachial stripe.

The chestnut edges of the wing-coverts and flight feathers are variable in width, depending on age and stage of wear.

The tail is browner with considerably less chestnut in females than in males of the same age. There is never any white in the tail. The belly is brown and lacks the bluish gloss.

Classification

Common Name – Crested bunting

Local Name – Yuvaraaj

Zoological Name – Melophus lathami

Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum – Chordata

Class – Aves

Order – Passeriformes

Family – Emberizidae

Genus – Melophus

Conservational Status – Schedule – IV, according to wildlife (Protection) act, 1972 and classified as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Distribution

Crested Bunting generally found in India, South-East Asia, Thailand, China. In India from eastern Rajasthan and Gir forest, south- western Maharashtra, northern Andhra Pradesh, eastern Madhya Pradesh and southern Bihar, through Meghalaya, Cachar and Manipur, south to the Chittagong region. Hills of Nepal, Sikkim, Bangladesh, Bhutan, northern and eastern Burma.

Habit and habitat

Crested bunting generally found in Open, bush and rock-covered mountainsides, open country sometimes also cultivation.

The call is a soft, somewhat squeaky, repeated tip or tup, monotonous song, which is more emphatic in flight. Breeding takes place sometime between April and August, coinciding with local wet season.

Breeds on open hillsides, dry rocky slopes and open cultivation, with grass and sparse scrubs, sometimes with scattered trees. In winter also found in rice stubbles and open areas.

The nest is placed on the ground, under a rock or bush or in crevices or under roots on steep banks, walls or precipitous slopes. The nest is a nest cup of woven grass, moss, fibrous plant stems and thin rootlets, lined with fine grass and animal hair.

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Female lays 3 to 5 dull white, tinged pale greenish or greyish yellow, blotched and speckled with red, purple and brown, especially at the large end.

Incubation apparently by female alone. Feeds mainly on small grass seeds, but also seeds from weeds and cereal.