General names
Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Species list may not be current. Comments and corrections welcome.
Buntings were originally known as シトド shitodo in Japanese, written 鵐 or 巫鳥. The character 鵐 appears originally to have been applied to quails in Chinese and its use for the buntings is probably a Japanese innovation.
(This is a good example of a Chinese character existing in two forms: 巫 (Chinese) meaning 'shaman', used for its phonetic value, and 鵐 (Chinese) where the 'bird' radical has been later added at the right to disambiguate the meaning. Other examples of this kind of phenomenon can be found at the orioles and wagtails.)
シトド shitodo is now regarded as a literary or obselete term in Japanese, although many exotic buntings are known scientifically as shitodo.
The native buntings use a variety of names. The most generalised term is ホオジロ hō-jiro meaning 'white cheek'. A number of names use what appears to be an etymologically related ji (no-jiko, ao-ji, and kuro-ji). Several others have their own distinctive names.
| Name | Meaning | Characters | Meaning of characters | Referents |
| ホオジロ hō-jiro |
'white-cheek' | 頬白 | cheek + white | Applied to a number of species and used for the name of the family. Unmarked refers to the Meadow Bunting. |
| ホオアカ hō-aka |
'red-cheek' | 頬赤 | cheek + red | Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata) and Little Bunting (E. pusilla). |
| ノジコ no-jiko |
'field jiko' | 1. 野路子 2. 野鵐 |
1. field + road + child 2. field + bunting |
Japanese Yellow Bunting (E. sulphurata) and Chestnut Bunting (E. rutila). |
| アオジ ao-ji |
'blue ji' | 1. 青鵐, also 2. 蒿雀 |
1. blue + bunting 2. mugwort + finch (Chinese name) |
Black-faced Bunting (E. spodocephala), Yellow-breasted Bunting (E. aureola), and the Yellowhammer (E. citrinella). |
| クロジ kuro-ji |
'black ji' | 黒鵐 | black + bunting | Grey Bunting (E. variabilis). |
| カシラダカ kashira-daka |
'head high' | 頭高 | head + high | Rustic Bunting (E. rustica). |
| チャキンチョウ chakin-chō |
'tea gold bird' (or possibly 'tea-cloth bird') | 茶金鳥 | tea + gold + bird | Black-headed Bunting (E. melanocephala). |
| ジュリン jurin |
寿林 | longevity + forest | Reed buntings: E. schoeniclus, E. yessoensis, E. pallasi |
Species names
ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see) 
| EMBERIZINAE | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
JAPANESE |
CHINESE |
KOREAN |
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Latin |
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru |
Japanese |
Other J |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Korean |
| Emberiza | |||||||
Emberiza citrinella |
Yellowhammer Eastern yellow bunting Eastern yellowhammer Bruant jaune Goldammer Обыкновенная овсянка |
キアオジ (黄青鵐, 黄蒿雀) ki ao-ji 'yellow blue-bunting' |
黄鹀 (黃鵐) 'yellow bunting' |
금빛머리멧새 geumbit-meori-mes-sae 'golden-headed mountain-bird' |
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| Emberiza leucocephalos Emberiza leucocephala |
Pine bunting Bruant à calotte blanche Fichtenammer Белошапочная овсянка |
シラガホオジロ (白髪頬白) shira-ga hō-jiro 'white-haired white-cheek' |
白头鹀 (白頭鵐) 'white-headed bunting' |
白頭鵐 'white-headed bunting' |
흰머리멧새 huin-meori-mes-sae 'white-headed mountain bird' |
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| Emberiza cioides |
Meadow bunting Siberian meadow bunting Bruant à longue queue Wiesenammer Красноухая овсянка |
ホオジロ (頬白) hō-jiro 'white-cheek' |
シトド (鵐, 巫鳥) shitodo 'shitodo' (old) |
三道眉草鹀 (三道眉草鵐) 'three-line brow grass bunting' |
草鵐 'grass bunting' |
三道眉草鸟 (三道眉草鳥) 'three-line brow grass bird' 韩鹀 (韓鵐) 'Han (place name) bunting' 山带子 (山帶子) 'mountain ribbon' 山麻雀 'mountain sparrow/finch' 小栗鹀 (小栗鵐) 'small chestnut bunting' 铁雀 (鐵雀) 'iron sparrow/finch' |
멧새 mes-sae 'mountain bird' |
| Emberiza hortulana |
Ortolan bunting Bruant ortolan Ortolan Садовая овсянка |
ズアオホオジロ (頭青頬白) zu-ao hō-jiro 'blue-headed white-cheek' |
圃鹀 (圃鵐) 'garden bunting' |
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| Emberiza tristrami |
Tristram's bunting Bruant de Tristram Tristram-Ammer Таежная овсянка |
シロハラホオジロ (白腹頬白) shiro-hara hō-jiro 'white-bellied white-cheek' |
白眉鹀 (白眉鵐) 'white-browed bunting' |
白眉鵐 'white-browed bunting' |
흰배멧새 huin-bae-mes-sae 'white-bellied mountain bird' |
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| Emberiza fucata |
Chestnut-eared bunting Grey-hooded bunting Grey-headed bunting Bruant à oreillons Graukopfammer Ошейниковая овсянка |
ホオアカ (頬赤) hō-aka 'red-cheek' |
シトド (鵐, 巫鳥) shitodo 'shitodo' (old) |
栗耳鹀 (栗耳鵐) 'chestnut-eared bunting' |
赤胸鵐 'red-breasted bunting' |
赤胸鹀 (赤胸鵐) 'red-breasted bunting' (6, 7) |
붉은뺨멧새 bulgeun-ppyam-mes-sae 'red-cheeked mountain bird' |
| Emberiza pusilla |
Little bunting Bruant nain Zwergammer Овсянка-крошка |
コホオアカ (小頬赤) ko hō-aka 'small red-cheek' |
小鹀 (小鵐) 'small bunting' |
小鵐 'small bunting' |
鬼头儿 (鬼頭兒) 'demon head' |
쇠붉은뺨멧새 soe-bulgeun-ppyam-mes-sae 'small red-cheeked mountain bird' |
|
| Emberiza chrysophrys |
Yellow-browed bunting Bruant à sourcils jaunes Gelbbrauenammer Желтобровая овсянка |
キマユホオジロ (黄眉頬白) ki-mayu hō-jiro 'yellow-eyebrowed white-cheek' |
黄眉鹀 (黄眉鵐) 'yellow-eyebrowed bunting' |
黄眉鵐 'yellow-eyebrowed bunting' |
노랑눈썹멧새 norang-nun-sseom-mes-sae 'yellow-eye-browed mountain bird' |
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Latin |
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru |
Japanese |
Other J |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Korean |
| Emberiza rustica |
Rustic bunting Bruant rustique Waldammer Овсянка-ремез |
カシラダカ (頭高) kashira-daka 'high-head' |
カシラ (頭) kashira 'kashira' (=head) |
田鹀 (田鵐) 'field bunting' |
田鵐 'field bunting' |
쑥새 ssuk-sae 'ssuk bird' |
|
| Emberiza elegans |
Yellow-throated bunting Yellow-headed bunting Bruant élégant Schmuckammer Желтогорлая овсянка |
ミヤマホオジロ (深山頬白) mi-yama hō-jiro 'deep mountain white-cheek' |
黄喉鹀 (黄喉鵐) 'yellow-throated bunting' |
黄喉鵐 'yellow-throated bunting' |
노랑턱멧새 norang-teong-mes-sae 'yellow-chinned mountain bird' |
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| Emberiza aureola |
Yellow-breasted bunting Bruant auréole Weidenammer Дубровник |
シマアオジ (縞青鵐, 縞蒿雀, 島青鵐, 島蒿雀) shima ao-ji 'striped blue bunting' or 'island blue bunting' |
黄胸鹀 (黃胸鵐) 'yellow-breasted bunting' |
金鵐 'golden bunting' |
禾花雀 'grain flower finch/sparrow' (花雀 = 'Brambling' (Fringilla montifringilla) 寒雀 'cold finch/sparrow' 黄胆 (黃膽) 'yellow gallbladder/bravery' 黄麻雀 'yellow sparrow' 老铁背 (老鐵背) 'old steel back' 黄豆瓣 'yellow bean petal' 麦黄雀 (麥黃雀) 'wheat yellow sparrow/finch' |
검은머리촉새 geomeun-meori-chok-sae 'black-headed chok bird' |
|
| Emberiza rutila |
Chestnut bunting Ruddy bunting Bruant roux Rötelammer Овсянка рыжая |
シマノジコ (縞野路子, 縞野鵐, 島野路子, 島野鵐) shima no-jiko 'striped field jiko' or 'island field jiko' |
栗鹀 (栗鵐) 'chestnut bunting' |
銹鵐 'rusty bunting' |
紫背 'purple back' 红金钟 (紅金鐘) 'red gold clock (=click beetle?)' |
꼬까참새 kkokka-cham-sae 'kkokka cham bird' |
|
| Emberiza melanocephala |
Black-headed bunting Bruant mélanocéphale Kappenammer Черноголовая овсянка |
ズグロチャキンチョウ (頭黒茶金鳥) zu-guro chakin-chō 'black-headed tea-gold (tea-cloth?) bird' |
黑头鹀 (黑頭鵐) 'black-headed bunting' |
黑頭鵐 'black-headed bunting' |
검은머리멧새 geomeun-meori-mes-sae 'black-headed mountain bird' |
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| Emberiza sulphurata |
Japanese yellow bunting Siebold's bunting Bruant du Japon Schwefelammer Японская жёлтая овсянка |
ノジコ (野路子, 野鵐) no-jiko 'field jiko' (jiko written 'field child' or with the character for 'bunting') |
シトド (鵐, 巫鳥) shitodo 'shitodo' (old) |
硫黄鹀 (硫磺鵐) 'sulphur yellow bunting' |
野鵐 'wild bunting' |
무당새 mudang-sae 'shaman ? bird' |
|
| Emberiza spodocephala |
Black-faced bunting Grey-headed black-faced bunting Masked bunting Bruant masqué Maskenammer Овсянка седоголовая |
アオジ (青鵐, 蒿雀) ao-ji 'blue bunting' (the second pair of characters mean 'mugwort finch/sparrow', presumably a Chinese name) |
シトド (鵐, 巫鳥) shitodo 'shitodo' (old) |
灰头鹀 (灰頭鵐) 'grey-headed bunting' or 灰头黑脸鹀 (灰頭黑臉鵐) 'grey-headed black-faced bunting' (Alternative in 5) |
黑臉鵐 'black-faced bunting' |
青头儿 (青頭兒) 'blue head' |
촉새 chok-sae 'chok bird' |
Latin |
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru |
Japanese |
Other J |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Korean |
Emberiza variabilis |
Grey bunting Japanese grey bunting Bruant gris Bambusammer Аспидная овсянка |
クロジ (黒鵐) kuro-ji 'black bunting' |
灰鹀 (灰鵐) 'grey bunting' |
검은멧새 geomeun-mes-sae 'black mountain bird' |
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| Emberiza pallasi |
Pallas's bunting Pallas's reed bunting Bruant de Pallas Pallas-Ammer Овсянка полярная |
シベリアジュリン (シベリア寿林) Shiberia jurin 'Siberian jurin' (jurin written 'longevity-forest') |
苇鹀 (葦鵐) 'reed bunting' |
葦鵐 'reed bunting' |
북방검은머리쑥새 bukbang-geomeun-meori-ssuk-sae 'northern black-headed ssuk bird' |
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| Emberiza yessoensis |
Ochre-rumped bunting Japanese reed bunting Chinese reed bunting Bruant de Yéso Mandschurenammer Рыжешейная овсянка |
コジュリン (小寿林) ko jurin 'small jurin' (jurin written 'longevity-forest') |
红颈苇鹀 (紅頸葦鵐) 'red-necked reed bunting' |
쇠검은머리쑥새 soe-geomeun-meori-ssuk-sae 'small black-headed ssuk bird' |
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| Emberiza schoeniclus |
Reed bunting Bruant des roseaux Rohrammer Тростниковая овсянка |
オオジュリン (大寿林) ō jurin 'large jurin' (jurin written 'longevity-forest') |
芦鹀 (蘆鵐) 'reed bunting' |
蘆鵐 'reed bunting' |
검은머리쑥새 geomeun-meori-ssuk-sae 'black-headed ssuk bird' |
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| Calcarius | |||||||
| Calcarius lapponicus |
Lapland longspur Lapland bunting Bruant lapon Spornammer Подорожник |
ツメナガホオジロ (爪長頬白) tsume-naga hō-jiro 'long-nailed white-cheek' |
铁爪鹀 (鐵爪鵐) 'steel-clawed bunting' |
鐵爪鵐 'steel-clawed bunting' |
긴발톱멧새 gin-bal-tom-mes-sae 'long-toe-nail mountain bird' |
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| Plectrophenax | |||||||
| Plectrophenax nivalis |
Snow bunting Bruant des neiges Schneeammer Пуночка |
ユキホオジロ (雪頬白) yuki hō-jiro 'snow white-cheek' |
雪鹀 (雪鵐) 'snow bunting' |
雪鵐 'snow bunting' |
흰멧새 huin-mes-sae 'white mountain bird' |
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Latin |
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru |
Japanese |
Other J |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Korean |
| Passerella | |||||||
| Passerella iliaca Zonotrichia iliaca |
Fox sparrow Bruant fauve Fuchsammer Пестрогрудая овсянка |
ゴマフスズメ (胡麻斑雀) goma-fu suzume 'sesame spotted sparrow' |
狐色雀鹀 (狐色雀鵐) 'fox-coloured finch/sparrow-bunting' (4) 狐色带鹀 (狐色帶鵐) 'fox-coloured belt-bunting' (5) |
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| Zonotrichia | |||||||
| Zonotrichia leucophrys |
White-crowned sparrow Bruant à couronne blanche Dachsammer Белобровая овсянка |
ミヤマシトド (深山鵐) mi-yama shitodo 'deep mountain bunting' |
白冠带鹀 (白冠帶鵐) 'white-crested belt bunting' |
흰정수리북미참새 huin-jeongsuri-bungmi-cham-sae 'white-headcrowned north American sparrow bird' |
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| Zonotrichia atricapilla | Golden-crowned sparrow Bruant à couronne dorée Kronenammer Чернобровая овсянка |
キカシラシトド (黄頭鵐) ki-gashira shitodo 'yellow-headed bunting' |
金冠带鹀 (金冠帶鵐) 'gold-crested belt bunting' |
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| Passerculus | |||||||
| Passerculus sandwichensis Ammodramus sandwichensis |
Savannah sparrow Savanna sparrow Bruant des prés Grasammer Саванная овсянка |
サバンナシトド (サバンナ鵐) sabanna shitodo 'savannah bunting' |
クサチヒメドリ (草地姫鳥) kusa-chi hime-dori 'grassland princess-bird' |
细树草鹀 (細樹草鵐) 'thin tree grass bunting' (4) 稀树草鹀 (稀樹草鵐) 'scarce tree grass bunting' (5) or 稀树美洲草鹀 (稀樹美洲草鵐) 'scarce tree American grass bunting' (Alternative in 5) |
노랑눈썹북미참새 norang-nun-sseop-bungmi-cham-sae 'yellow-eye-browed north American sparrow bird' |
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Latin |
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru |
Japanese |
Other J |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Korean |
Floating Menu by Milonic |
Tool tips by Walter Zorn |
