Buntings are passerines of the family Emerizidae† .

They are seed-eating birds with a distinctively shaped bill.

In North America, most of the species in this family are known as Sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows in the family Passeridae.

Their habits are similar to those of finches, with which they sometimes used to be grouped. Some emberizids are still named as finches.

Many species have distinctive head patterns.

† This article follows the taxonomy of Buntings and Sparrows: A Guide to the Buntings and North American Sparrows by Byers, Olson and Curson. An alternative treatment massively expand the Emberizids to include tanagers, wood warblers and many other groups.

Species are:

Family: Emerizidae Genus Urocynchramus

Przevalski's Rosefinch, Urocynchramus pylzowi

Genus Melophus

Crested Bunting, Melophus lathami

Genus Latoucheornis

Slaty Bunting, Latoucheornis siemsseni

Genus Emberiza, typical buntings

Yellowhammer[?], Emberiza citrinella
Pine Bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos
Cirl Bunting[?], Emberiza cirlus
Tibetan Bunting, Emberiza koslowi
Rock Bunting, Emberiza cia
Godlewski's Bunting, Emberiza godlewskii
Meadow Bunting, Emberiza cioides
Rufous-backed Bunting, Emberiza jankowskii
Gray-hooded Bunting, Emberiza buchanani
Cinereous Bunting, Emberiza cineracea
Ortolan Bunting, Emberiza hortulana
Chestnut-breasted Bunting, Emberiza stewarti
Cretzschmar's Bunting, Emberiza caesia
House Bunting, Emberiza striolata
Lark-like Bunting, Emberiza impetuani
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Emberiza tahapisi
Socotra Bunting, Emberiza socotrana
Cape Bunting, Emberiza capensis
Ochre-rumped Bunting, Emberiza yessoensis
Tristram's Bunting, Emberiza tristrami
Chestnut-eared Bunting, Emberiza fucata
Little Bunting, Emberiza pusilla
Yellow-browed Bunting, Emberiza chrysophrys
Rustic Bunting, Emberiza rustica
Yellow-throated Bunting, Emberiza elegans
Yellow-breasted Bunting, Emberiza aureola
Golden-breasted Bunting, Emberiza flaviventris
Somali Bunting, Emberiza poliopleura
Brown-rumped Bunting, Emberiza affinis
Cabanis' Bunting, Emberiza cabanisi
Chestnut Bunting, Emberiza rutila
Black-headed Bunting, Emberiza melanocephala
Red-headed Bunting, Emberiza bruniceps
Yellow Bunting, Emberiza sulphurata
Black-faced Bunting, Emberiza spodocephala
Gray Bunting, Emberiza variabilis
Pallas' Bunting, Emberiza pallasi
Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus

Genus Milaria

Corn Bunting, Milaria calandra

Genus Arremon

Orange-billed Sparrow, Arremon aurantiirostris
Pectoral Sparrow, Arremon taciturnus
Half-collared Sparrow, Arremon semitorquatus
Golden-winged Sparrow, Arremon schlegeli
Black-capped Sparrow, Arremon abeillei
Saffron-billed Sparrow, Arremon flavirostris
Olive Sparrow, Arremonops rufivirgatus
Tocuyo Sparrow, Arremonops tocuyensis
Green-backed Sparrow, Arremonops chloronotus
Black-striped Sparrow, Arremonops conirostris

Genus Melozone

Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow, Melozone kieneri
Prevost's Ground-Sparrow, Melozone biarcuatum
White-eared Ground-Sparrow, Melozone leucotis

Genus Pipilo towhees

Green-tailed Towhee, Pipilo chlorurus
Collared Towhee, Pipilo ocai
Socorro Towhee, Pipilo socorroensis
Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus
California Towhee, Pipilo crissalis
Canyon Towhee, Pipilo fuscus
Abert's Towhee, Pipilo aberti
White-throated Towhee, Pipilo albicollis

Genus Aimophila

Bridled Sparrow, Aimophila mystacalis
Black-chested Sparrow, Aimophila humeralis
Stripe-headed Sparrow, Aimophila ruficauda
Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow, Aimophila sumichrasti
Stripe-capped Sparrow, Aimophila strigiceps
Tumbes Sparrow, Aimophila stolzmanni
Bachman's Sparrow, Aimophila aestivalis
Botteri's Sparrow, Aimophila botterii
Cassin's Sparrow, Aimophila cassinii
Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Aimophila ruficeps
Rufous-winged Sparrow, Aimophila carpalis
Five-striped Sparrow, Aimophila quinquestriata
Oaxaca Sparrow, Aimophila notosticta
Rusty Sparrow, Aimophila rufescens

Genus Oriturus

Striped Sparrow, Oriturus superciliosus

Genus Torreornis

Zapata Sparrow, Torreornis inexpectata

Genus Spizella

American Tree Sparrow, Spizella arborea
Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina
Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida
Brewer's Sparrow, Spizella breweri
Field Sparrow, Spizella pusilla
Worthen's Sparrow, Spizella wortheni
Black-chinned Sparrow, Spizella atrogularis

Genus Pooecetes

Vesper Sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus

Genus Chondestes

Lark Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus

Genus Amphispiza

Black-throated Sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata
Sage Sparrow, Amphispiza belli

Genus Calamospiza

Lark Bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys

Genus Passerculus

Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis

Genus Ammodramus

Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Ammodramus nelsoni
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Ammodramus caudacutus
Le Conte's Sparrow, Ammodramus leconteii
Henslow's Sparrow, Ammodramus henslowii
Baird's Sparrow, Ammodramus bairdii
Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum
Grassland Sparrow, Ammodramus humeralis
Yellow-browed Sparrow, Ammodramus aurifrons

Genus Passerella

Fox Sparrow[?], Passerella iliaca

Genus Xenospiza

Sierra Madre Sparrow, Xenospiza baileyi

Genus Melospiza

Song Sparrow[?], Melospiza melodia
Lincoln's Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana

Genus Zonotrichia

White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys
White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
Golden-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla
Rufous-collared Sparrow, Zonotrichia capensis
Harris' Sparrow, Zonotrichia querula

Genus Junco, juncos

Dark-eyed Junco[?], Junco hyemalis
Yellow-eyed Junco, Junco phaeonotus
Guadalupe Junco, Junco insularis
Volcano Junco, Junco vulcani

Genus Calcarius longspurs

McCown's Longspur, Calcarius mccownii
Lapland Longspur[?], Calcarius lapponicus
Smith's Longspur, Calcarius pictus
Chestnut-collared Longspur, Calcarius ornatus

Genus Plectrophenax snow buntings

Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis
McKay's Bunting, Plectrophenax hyperboreus

Bunting (bird)