General
Information is from dictionaries and other sources. Species list may not be current. Korean glosses are tentative. Comments and corrections welcome. Hover over Green Lettering Green lettering at this site hides a tool tip with glosses, further explanations, etc. Hover cursor to reveal. to see additional information.
Buntings have had distinctive names for most of Japan's recorded history. The name シトド shitodo dates from the 8th century. In the 9th century it came to be written 巫鳥, meaning 'sorceress bird' or 'shrine maiden bird', possibly through a connection with fortune telling. 巫 and 鳥 were later combined into the character 鵐, although this already existed in Chinese as the name of a certain type of quail.
シトド shitodo is now a literary or obselete term for the buntings (in particular the Meadow Bunting Emberiza cioides), but ornithologically it is still used in the modern names of extralimital buntings.
Current ornithological naming was fixed in the 19th century on the basis of usage at the time. It features a number of names, the most generalised being ホオジロ hō-jiro (頬白) meaning 'white-cheek', which gives its name to the family. The names used for the buntings are as follows:
1. ホオジロ hō-jiro 'white-cheek', written 頬白 ('cheek white'), covers about a third of native bunting species. Unqualified it refers to the Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides).
2. ホオアカ hō-aka 'red-cheek', written 頬赤 ('cheek red'), is used for the Chestnut-eared Bunting (Schoeniclus fucatus) and the Little Bunting (Schoeniclus pusillus).
3. There are three names incorporating the form ジ ji, which is perceived as meaning 'bunting'. Writing in Chinese characters varies, but all three names can be written with the 鵐 from シトド shitodo.
アオジ ao-ji 'blue/green bunting1' can be written in two ways: 1. 青鵐 'blue/green bunting', 2. 蒿雀 'mugwort sparrow' (where mugwort refers to the greenish colour). This name is used for the Black-faced Bunting (Schoeniclus spodocephala), the Yellow-breasted Bunting (Schoeniclus aureolus), and the Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella).
クロジ kuro-ji 'black bunting1', written 黒鵐 ('black bunting'), is used for the Grey Bunting (Schoeniclus variabilis).
ノジコ no-jiko 'field bunting1' can be written three ways 1. 野鵐 ('field bunting'), 2. 野路子 ('field road child'), and 3. 野地子 ('field earth child'). The last two use characters arbitrarily assigned for the pronunciation. The name is used for the Japanese Yellow Bunting (Schoeniclus sulphuratus) and the Chestnut Bunting (Schoeniclus rutilus).
4. カシラダカ kashira-daka 'head high', written 頭高 ('head high'), is used for the Rustic Bunting (Schoeniclus rusticus).
5. チャキンチョウ chakin-chō 'brown-gold bird', written 茶金鳥 ('brown gold bird'), is used for the Black-headed Bunting (Granativora melanocephala) and other members of this genus.
6. ジュリン jurin, written 寿林 ('longevity forest') is used for the reed buntings: Schoeniclus schoeniclus, Schoeniclus yessoensis, and Schoeniclus pallasi. The etymology is unknown and the name is not found in ordinary dictionaries.
Species names
ABOUT THIS TABLESCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
JAPANESE |
CHINESE |
KOREAN |
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| Granativora | |||||||
Latin |
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru |
Japanese |
Other J |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Korean |
| Granativora melanocephala 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 brown-gold bird' |
黑头鹀 (黑頭鵐) 'black-headed bunting' |
(黑头鹀) 黑頭鵐 'black-headed bunting' |
검은머리멧새 geomeun-meori-mes-sae 'black-headed mountain bird' |
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| Emberiza | |||||||
Latin |
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru |
Japanese |
Other J |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Korean |
| 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 'bunting2' (old) |
栗耳鹀 (栗耳鵐) 'chestnut-eared bunting' |
(赤胸鹀) 赤胸鵐 'red-breasted bunting' |
赤胸鹀 (赤胸鵐) 'red-breasted bunting' (6, 7) 赤脸雀 (赤臉雀) 'red-faced sparrow' 高粱颏儿 (高粱頦兒) 'sorghum chin' 赤雀 (赤雀) 'red finch' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 西比利亚灰头雀 (西比利亞灰頭雀) 'Siberian grey-headed sparrow' (early ornithological) (35) |
붉은뺨멧새 bulgeun-ppyam-mes-sae 'red-cheeked mountain bird' |
| Emberiza cioides |
Meadow bunting Siberian meadow bunting Bruant à longue queue Wiesenammer Красноухая овсянка |
ホオジロ (頬白 ~ 黄道眉 ~ 画眉鳥) hō-jiro 'white-cheek' |
シトド (鵐 ~ 巫鳥) shitodo 'bunting2' (old) |
三道眉草鹀 (三道眉草鵐) 'three-line-eyebrowed grass bunting' |
(草鹀) 草鵐 'grass bunting' |
大白眉 (大白鳥) 'large white-eyebrow' 山带子 (山帶子) 'mountain ribbon' (northern) (35) 三道眉 (三道眉) 'three-line-eyebrow' (northern) (35) 三道眉草鸟 (三道眉草鳥) 'three-line eyebrow grass bird' 灰眉雀 (灰眉雀) 'grey-eyebrowed sparrow' (southern) (35) 山麻雀 (山麻雀) 'mountain sparrow' 小栗鹀 (小栗鵐) 'small chestnut bunting' 犁雀儿 (犁雀兒) 'furrow-sparrow' 韩鹀 (韓鵐) 'Han (place name) bunting' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) |
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 citrinella |
Yellowhammer or Eurasian Yellow Bunting 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/green bunting1' |
黄鹀 (黃鵐) 'yellow bunting' |
금빛머리멧새 geumbit-meori-mes-sae 'gold-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' |
(白头鹀) 白頭鵐 'white-headed bunting' |
白冠雀 (白冠雀) 'white-crested sparrow' (31, 35) 白发鹀 (白髪鵐) 'white-crested sparrow' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) |
흰머리멧새 huin-meori-mes-sae 'white-headed mountain bird' |
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| Schoeniclus | |||||||
Latin |
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru |
Japanese |
Other J |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Korean |
| Schoeniclus elegans 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' |
(黄喉鹀) 黄喉鵐 'yellow-throated bunting' |
黄豆瓣 (黄豆瓣) 'yellow bean petal' 黑月子 (黑月子) 'black month (confinement?)' 黄眉子 (黄眉子) 'yellow-eyebrow' 黄眉 (黄眉) 'yellow-eyebrow' (northern) (35) 黄凤子 (黄鳳子) 'yellow phoenix' 春暖 (春暖) 'spring warmth' 探春 (探春) 'seek spring' |
노랑턱멧새 norang-teong-mes-sae 'yellow-chinned mountain bird' |
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| Schoeniclus yessoensis Emberiza yessoensis |
Japanese Reed Bunting or Ochre-rumped Bunting Chinese reed bunting Bruant de Yéso Mandschurenammer Рыжешейная овсянка |
コジュリン (小寿林) ko jurin 'small reedbunting' |
红颈苇鹀 (紅頸葦鵐) 'red-necked reed bunting' |
黑头 (黑頭) 'black-head' 红背雀 (紅背雀) 'red-backed-sparrow' (early ornithological) (35) |
쇠검은머리쑥새 soe-geomeun-meori-ssuk-sae 'small black-headed ssuk bird' |
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| Schoeniclus pallasi Emberiza pallasi |
Pallas's Reed Bunting Pallas's 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 reedbunting' |
苇鹀 (葦鵐) 'reed bunting' |
(苇鹀) 葦鵐 'reed bunting' |
山家雀儿 (山家雀兒) 'mountain house-sparrow' 苇容儿 (葦容兒) 'reed rong' (northern) (35) 小苇雀 (小葦雀) 'small reed-sparrow' (early ornithological) (35) |
북방검은머리쑥새 bukbang-geomeun-meori-ssuk-sae 'northern black-headed ssuk bird' |
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| Schoeniclus schoeniclus Emberiza schoeniclus |
Eurasian Reed Bunting Reed Bunting Bruant des roseaux Rohrammer Тростниковая овсянка |
オオジュリン (大寿林) ō jurin 'large reedbunting' |
芦鹀 (蘆鵐) 'reed bunting' |
(芦鹀) 蘆鵐 'reed bunting' |
大山家雀儿 (大山家雀兒) 'large mountain house-sparrow' 苇容儿 (葦容兒) 'reed rong' (northern) (35) 大苇容 (大葦容) 'large reed rong' 白头雀 (白頭雀) 'white-headed sparrow' (southern) (35) 东方苇雀 (東方葦雀) 'eastern reed-sparrow' (early ornithological) (35) 白领鹀 (白領鵐) 'white-collared bunting' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) |
검은머리쑥새 geomeun-meori-ssuk-sae 'black-headed ssuk bird' |
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| Schoeniclus spodocephala 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/green bunting1' |
シトド (鵐 ~ 巫鳥) shitodo 'bunting2' (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' (alt in 5) |
(黑脸鹀) 黑臉鵐 'black-faced bunting' |
青头儿 (青头兒) 'green/blue head' 灰头 (灰頭) 'grey head' 青头雀 (青頭雀) 'green/blue-headed sparrow' 蓬鹀 (蓬鵐) 'fleabane bunting' 黑脸鹀 (黑臉鵐) 'black-faced bunting' 青头鬼儿 (青頭鬼兒) 'green/blue-headed demon' 青头愣 (青頭愣) 'green/blue-headed daze' |
촉새 chok-sae 'chok bird' |
Latin |
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru |
Japanese |
Other J |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Korean |
| Schoeniclus sulphuratus 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 bunting1' |
シトド (鵐 ~ 巫鳥) shitodo 'bunting2' (old) |
硫黄鹀 (硫磺鵐) 'sulphur yellow bunting' |
(野鹀) 野鵐 'wild bunting' |
무당새 mudang-sae 'shaman ? bird' |
|
| Schoeniclus rusticus 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' |
(田鹀) 田鵐 'field bunting' |
花九儿 (花九兒) 'flower nine?' 花嗉儿 (花嗉兒) 'flower crop' 田雀 (田雀) 'field sparrow' (early ornithological) (35) 花眉子 (花眉子) 'flower eyebrow' (northern) (35) 白眉儿 (白眉兒) 'white-eyebrow' (northern) (35) |
쑥새 ssuk-sae 'ssuk bird' |
| Schoeniclus rutilus Emberiza rutila |
Chestnut bunting Ruddy bunting Bruant roux Rötelammer Овсянка рыжая |
シマノジコ (縞野路子 ~ 縞野地子 ~ 縞野鵐 ~ 島野路子 ~ 島野地子 ~ 島野鵐) shima no-jiko 'striped field bunting1' or 'island field bunting1' |
栗鹀 (栗鵐) 'chestnut bunting' |
(锈鹀) 銹鵐 'rusty bunting' |
紫背儿 (紫背兒) 'purple back' (northern) (35) 红金钟 (紅金鐘) 'red gold clock ?' 金钟 (金鐘) 'gold clock?' 大红袍 (大紅袍) 'large red robe' 红雀 (紅雀) 'red finch' (early ornithological) (35) (also Passer rutilans, Erythrina erythrina, and Amandava amandava) 栗色雀 (栗色雀) 'chestnut-coloured sparrow' (early ornithological) (35) 乡鹀 (鄉鵐) 'country bunting' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) |
꼬까참새 kkokka-cham-sae 'flowery sparrow bird' |
|
| Schoeniclus pusillus 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' |
(小鹀) 小鵐 'small bunting' |
鬼头儿 (鬼頭兒) 'demon head' 虎头儿 (虎頭兒) 'tiger head' 花椒子儿 (花椒子兒) 'wild pepper' 麦寂寂 (麥寂寂) 'grain jiji' 高粱头 (高粱頭) 'sorghum head' 铁脸儿 (鐵臉兒) 'iron-face' 小雀 (小雀) 'small sparrow' (early ornithological) (35) |
쇠붉은뺨멧새 soe-bulgeun-ppyam-mes-sae 'small red-cheeked mountain bird' |
|
| Schoeniclus aureolus 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/green bunting1' or 'island blue/green bunting1' |
黄胸鹀 (黃胸鵐) 'yellow-breasted bunting' |
(金鹀) 金鵐 'golden bunting' |
禾花雀 (禾花雀) 'grain flower sparrow' (花雀 = 'Brambling' (Fringilla montifringilla)) 寒雀 (寒雀) 'cold sparrow' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 黄胆 (黃膽) 'yellow gallbladder/bravery' (northern) (35) 黄麻雀 (黄麻雀) 'yellow sparrow' 老铁背 (老鐵背) 'old iron back' 黄豆瓣 (黄豆瓣) 'yellow bean petal' 麦黄雀 (麥黃雀) 'wheat-yellow sparrow' 黄胸雀 (黄胸雀) 'yellow-breasted sparrow' (early ornithological) (35) |
검은머리촉새 geomeun-meori-chok-sae 'black-headed chok bird' |
|
Latin |
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru |
Japanese |
Other J |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Korean |
| Schoeniclus chrysophrys 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' |
(黄眉鹀) 黄眉鵐 'yellow-eyebrowed bunting' |
金眉子 (金眉子) 'gold-eyebrow' 黄三道 (黄三道) 'yellow-three-line' 五道眉儿 (五道眉兒) 'five-line-eyebrow' 大眉子 (大眉子) 'big eyebrow' (northern) (35) 金眉雀 (金眉雀) 'gold-eyebrowed-sparrow' (southern) (35) 黄眉雀 (黄眉雀) 'yellow-eyebrowed-sparrow' (early ornithological) (35) |
노랑눈썹멧새 norang-nun-sseom-mes-sae 'yellow-eye-browed mountain bird' |
|
| Schoeniclus variabilis Emberiza variabilis  |
Grey bunting Japanese grey bunting Bruant gris Bambusammer Аспидная овсянка |
クロジ (黒鵐) kuro-ji 'black bunting1' |
灰鹀 (灰鵐) 'grey bunting' |
黑蒿鸟 (黑蒿鳥) 'black artemisia bird' 黑蒿雀 (黑蒿雀) 'black artemisia sparrow' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) 灰雀 (灰雀) 'grey sparrow' (early ornithological) (35)' |
검은멧새 geomeun-mes-sae 'black mountain bird' |
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| Schoeniclus tristrami 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-eyebrowed bunting' |
(白眉鹀) 白眉鵐 'white-eyebrowed bunting' |
白三道儿 (白三道兒) 'white three-line' 小白眉 (小白眉) 'small white-eyebrow' 五道眉 (五道眉) 'five-line eyebrow' 特氏雀 (特氏雀) 'Mr Te's sparrow' (early ornithological) (35) |
흰배멧새 huin-bae-mes-sae 'white-bellied mountain bird' |
|
The word ジュリン jurin for the reed buntings is a specialised term not appearing in ordinary dictionaries. It is written 寿林 in Chinese characters, literally meaning 'longevity forest'.
The word ホオジロ hō-jiro 'white cheek' is used for a number of buntings as well as snow buntings and longspurs. It can be written in Chinese characters in several ways: 1. characters literally meaning 'cheek-white' in Japanese (頬白 hō-jiro), 2. 黄道眉, literally meaning 'yellow-line eyebrow', from Chinese, and 3. 画眉鳥 gabi-chō literally 'painted eyebrow bird', also from Chinese, normally used for the hwamei.
The word シマ shima is written either 縞 'striped' or 島 'island'. Both are pronounced shima. The first might refer to the striated pattern in the bird's plumage; the second might apply to a restricted or island distribution. It's not clear which is meant in this name.
The ジ ji in アオジ ao-ji, クロジ kuro-ji, and ノジコ no-jiko are etymologically related, although the ultimate etymology is not clear.
ジ ji and ジコ jiko may both be written 鵐, a character devised to write the old name シトド shitodo 'bunting'. The name アオジ ao-ji as a whole may be written 蒿雀 or 蒿鵐, where 蒿 yomogi means 'mugwort' (Artemisia) and the second character refers to 'bunting' and 'sparrow' respectively. 蒿 refers to the greenish colour of the bird.
ノジコ no-jiko may also be written 野路子 'field road child' or 野地子 'field earth child'. The last two characters in each have been arbitrarily chosen for their sound.
In Japanese, both 蓬 and 蒿 are used to write ヨモギ yomogi, a name for the mugworts (Artemisia). This name appears to originate in Japanese.
中国鸟类种和亚种分类名录大全（修订版） 郑作新 著 科学出版社 北京 2000年
A Complete Checklist of Species and Subspecies of the Chinese Birds (Revised Edition) by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 2000
中国鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2005年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2005
中国鸟类野外手册（中文版）约翰・马敬能、卡伦・菲利普斯，合作者：荷芬奇，翻译：卢和芬 湖南教育出版社 长沙 2000年
A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Chinese translation) by John MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps, in collaboration with He Fen-qi, translated by Lu Hefen, Hunan Jiaoyu Chubanshe (Hunan Educational Press) Changsha 2000
世界鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2002年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of the World Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2002
世界鸟类名称（拉丁文、汉文、英文对照）第二版 郑作新等 科学出版社 北京 2002年
Birds of the World (Latin, Chinese and English Names) 2nd ed. by Cheng Tso-Hsin et al, Science Press, Beijing 2002
中国鸟类分布名录 第二版 郑作新 科学出版社 北京 1976年
(Checklist of the Classification of Birds of China 2nd edition by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 1976)
香港及華南鳥類（第六版）（翻譯成中文及重新修訂） 尹璉、費嘉倫、林超英 香港性徵特區政府新聞處政府印務局 1994年
Birds of Hong Kong and South China (6th edition, translated into Chinese and newly revised) by Clive Viney, Karen Phillipps, Lin Chaoying, Hong Kong Govt. Press 1994
Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000
汉蒙名词术语分类词典（自然科学部分） Mongolian (Cyrillic): Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь (байгалийн шинжлэх ухааны бүлэг) (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary, natural sciences part) by 《汉蒙名词术语分类词典》编纂委员会 Mongolian (Cyrillic): "Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь" найруулах комисс (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary editorial committee), Inner Mongolian People's Press, Hohhot 1990
Chinese Birds (A Tentative List of Chinese Birds) 中國鳥類（中國鳥類目錄試編） N. Gist Gee, Lacy I. Moffett, G. D. Wilder (祁天錫, 慕維德, 萬卓志), Peiping, 1927 (reprinted 1948)
Floating Menu by Milonic |
Tool tips by Walter Zorn |
