Lapland Bunting

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Lapland Bunting in the UK

A regular but scarce passage migrant and winter visitor from the Arctic. Birds start to arrive in late August and September. Numbers vary a lot from year to year but are typically in the low hundreds. Autumn 2010 brought a major influx, far above normal. Some birds only pass through on their way to France, and return movement starts in March. A few pairs once nested in the Scottish Highlands, with the last breeding in 1980. Amber listed.

Where and when to see a Lapland Bunting

In September and October look on the Northern Isles, the Outer Hebrides and west coast headlands, where new arrivals feed on short turf and paths. In winter the North Sea coast from the Firth of Forth to Kent holds most. Check stubble fields behind the sea wall, saltmarsh edges and rough coastal grass on the Yorkshire and north Norfolk coasts. Birds mix with Skylarks and hide well. Most are found by call as they fly over.

Habitat, diet and field notes

Habitat: Coastal stubbles (winter).
Diet: Seeds.
Field note: Long claw on hindtoe; rattling call.

How to identify a Lapland Bunting

The size of a Reed Bunting but stockier, with longer wings and a shorter tail. It creeps and runs low to the ground like a mouse and rarely perches up. The best mark is a chestnut panel across the wing, framed by two thin white wing bars. The bill is yellowish with a dark tip. Winter birds have a buff face with dark corners to the cheek, a streaked back and often a rusty nape. Spring males have a black face and breast and a bright chestnut nape.

Call and song

Learn the flight call. It is a short, dry rattle, 'prrrt', often followed by a clear, descending whistle, 'teu'. Snow Bunting gives a similar pair of notes but its rattle is softer and more rippling. Heard something you cannot place? Bird Hear identifies UK birds from a 10 second recording, free in your browser.

Confusion species

• Reed Bunting: Reed Bunting is longer-tailed with white outer tail feathers it flicks open, has no chestnut wing panel and gives a thin 'tseeu' call.
• Snow Bunting: Snow Bunting shows large white patches in the wing and tail in flight and looks pale ginger and white on the ground.
• Eurasian Skylark: Skylark is larger with a small crest, a white trailing edge to the wing and a rolling 'chirrup' call.

Month by month

Numbers peak in May. See the May birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in British seabirds.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

Conservation status and Birdedex points

In the Birdedex the Lapland Bunting is a Rare tier bird, worth +8 points when you log one. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5. It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is an offence to disturb it at or near the nest. We blur the location of every sighting of this species.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Snow BuntingRare · Mountain tops; coastal beaches (winter)
• Greater ScaupRare · Coastal bays (winter)
• Horned Lark (Shore Lark)Rare · Coastal saltmarsh (winter)
• Long-tailed DuckRare · Coastal seas (winter)
• Red-necked GrebeRare · Coastal seas (winter)
• Rough-legged BuzzardRare · Coastal grassland (winter)

Lapland Bunting: quick answers

Where can I see a Lapland Bunting in the UK?

Coastal stubble and saltmarsh along the east coast in winter, or island and headland turf in early autumn. Walk slowly and listen. Flocks are small, often just two or three birds, and they tend to stay loyal to one field for weeks once found.

When is the best time to see Lapland Bunting?

Mid-September to late October for migrants in the north and west, when birds can be tame on short grass. November to February for wintering birds on the east coast. Spring passage in March and April is light, but it gives a chance of a male coming into breeding plumage.

What does a Lapland Bunting eat?

In Britain almost entirely seeds, picked from the ground in stubble, weedy fields and along the saltmarsh edge. On the Arctic breeding grounds it switches to insects, which is what the chicks are fed.

Kit that helps

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