General
Information is from dictionaries and other sources. 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.
Traditionally, the buntings were not distinguished in Chinese from other small passerine birds. In folk usage, much of it recorded in the early 20th century, their vernacular names tended to reference their eyebrows or treat them as a kind of sparrow or finch (雀 ). Many names belong to north Chinese usage, partly reflecting their greater distribution in the north. The earliest proposed ornithological names, found in Chinese Birds of 1927 (35), also recommended calling the buntings 雀 ('sparrow' or 'finch').
Despite this, later Chinese authorities uniformly adopted the character 鵐 , a Japanese usage, in order to systematically differentiate the buntings from the finches, sparrows, and weavers. 鵐 is still largely an ornithological term. It does not occur on its own, being found only in combination with other characters.
In earlier stages of Chinese the character 鵐 appears to have been applied to the sparrows or finches (some sources give 'quail') but was used by the Japanese to write their old word シトド shitodo 'bunting' in the absence of a more appropriate alternative. This character continued to be used to write some of the more modern bunting names in Japanese and was listed in the seminal Japanese-influenced work Zoological Terminology, published in Shanghai in 1923. This work actually expanded the use of 鵐 beyond its original scope in Japanese, which it was used for only a few of the buntings. Some of these names were referenced in Chinese Birds of 1927, which appears to be the immediate source for the character's reintroduction into Chinese.
As well as the Emberizidae, 鵐 is also used for the Plectrophenacidae (snow buntings and longspurs).
Species names
ABOUT THIS TABLESCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH |
CHINESE |
JAPANESE |
OTHER |
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| Melophus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Chinese (Mainland) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Other J |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
| Melophus lathami Emberiza lathami  |
Crested bunting | (冠鹀) 冠鵐 'crested bunting' |
凤头鹀 (鳳頭鵐 'phoenix-headed bunting' |
(凤头雀) 鳳頭雀 'phoenix-headed sparrow' (early ornithological) (35) |
レンジャクノジコ (連雀野路子) renjaku no-jiko 'waxwing field bunting1' |
Chim Sẻ đồng mào 'crested field-sparrow (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
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| Granativora | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Chinese (Mainland) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Other J |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
| Granativora melanocephala Emberiza melanocephala |
Black-headed bunting | (黑头鹀) 黑頭鵐 'black-headed bunting' |
黑头鹀 (黑頭鵐) 'black-headed bunting' |
ズグロチャキンチョウ (頭黒茶金鳥) zu-guro chakin-chō 'black-headed brown-gold bird' |
검은머리멧새 geomeun-meori-mes-sae 'black-headed mountain bird' |
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| Emberiza | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Chinese (Mainland) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Other J |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
| Emberiza fucata |
Chestnut-eared bunting Grey-hooded bunting Grey-headed bunting |
(赤胸鹀) 赤胸鵐 'red-breasted bunting' |
栗耳鹀 (栗耳鵐) 'chestnut-eared 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) |
ホオアカ (頬赤) hō-aka 'red-cheek' |
シトド (鵐 ~ 巫鳥) shitodo 'bunting' (old) |
붉은뺨멧새 bulgeun-ppyam-mes-sae 'red-cheeked mountain bird' |
Chim Sẻ đồng đầu xám 'grey-headed field-sparrow (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
| Emberiza cioides |
Meadow bunting Siberian meadow bunting |
(草鹀) 草鵐 'grass bunting' |
三道眉草鹀 (三道眉草鵐) 'three-line-eyebrowed 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.) |
ホオジロ (頬白 ~ 黄道眉 ~ 画眉鳥) hō-jiro 'white-cheek' |
シトド (鵐 ~ 巫鳥) shitodo 'bunting' (old) |
멧새 mes-sae 'mountain bird' |
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| Emberiza leucocephalos Emberiza leucocephala |
Pine bunting | (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.) |
シラガホオジロ (白髪頬白) shira-ga hō-jiro 'white-haired white-cheek' |
흰머리멧새 huin-meori-mes-sae 'white-headed mountain bird' |
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| Schoeniclus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Chinese (Mainland) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Other J |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
| Schoeniclus elegans Emberiza elegans |
Yellow-throated bunting Yellow-headed bunting |
(黄喉鹀) 黃喉鵐 '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' |
ミヤマホオジロ (深山頬白) mi-yama hō-jiro 'deep mountain white-cheek' |
노랑턱멧새 norang-teong-mes-sae 'yellow-chinned mountain bird' |
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| Schoeniclus pallasi Emberiza pallasi |
Pallas's Reed Bunting Pallas's Bunting |
(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) |
シベリアジュリン (シベリア寿林) shiberia jurin 'Siberian reedbunting' |
북방검은머리쑥새 bukbang-geomeun-meori-ssuk-sae 'northern black-headed ssuk bird' |
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| Schoeniclus schoeniclus Emberiza schoeniclus |
Eurasian Reed Bunting Reed Bunting |
(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.) |
オオジュリン (大寿林) ō jurin 'large reedbunting' |
검은머리쑥새 geomeun-meori-ssuk-sae 'black-headed ssuk bird' |
Chim Sẻ đầm lầy 'marsh sparrow (bird)' (13) |
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| Schoeniclus spodocephala Emberiza spodocephala |
Black-faced bunting Grey-headed black-faced bunting Masked bunting |
(黑脸鹀) 黑臉鵐 'black-faced bunting' |
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) |
(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' |
アオジ (青鵐 ~ 蒿雀) ao-ji 'blue/green bunting1' |
シトド (鵐 ~ 巫鳥) shitodo 'bunting2' (old) |
촉새 chok-sae 'chok bird' |
Chim Sẻ đồng mặt đen 'black-faced field-sparrow (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
| Schoeniclus sulphuratus Emberiza sulphurata |
Japanese yellow bunting Siebold's bunting |
(野鹀) 野鵐 'wild bunting' |
硫黄鹀 (硫磺鵐) 'sulphur yellow bunting' |
ノジコ (野路子 ~ 野鵐) no-jiko 'field bunting1' |
シトド (鵐 ~ 巫鳥) shitodo 'bunting2' (old) |
무당새 mudang-sae 'shaman ? bird' |
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Latin |
English |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Chinese (Mainland) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Other J |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
| Schoeniclus rusticus Emberiza rustica |
Rustic bunting | (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) |
カシラダカ (頭高) kashira-daka 'high-head' |
カシラ (頭) kashira 'kashira' (=head) |
쑥새 ssuk-sae 'ssuk bird' |
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| Schoeniclus rutilus Emberiza rutila |
Chestnut bunting Ruddy bunting |
(锈鹀) 銹鵐 'rusty bunting' |
栗鹀 (栗鵐) 'chestnut 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 and Erythrina erythrina) (栗色雀) 栗色雀 'chestnut-coloured sparrow' (early ornithological) (35) (乡鹀) 鄉鵐 'country bunting' (35, from Zool. Nomen.) |
シマノジコ (縞野路子 ~ 縞野鵐 ~ 島野路子 ~ 島野鵐) shima no-jiko 'striped field bunting1' or 'island field bunting1' |
꼬까참새 kkokka-cham-sae 'flowery sparrow bird' |
Chim Sẻ đồng hung 'reddish field-sparrow (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
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| Schoeniclus pusillus Emberiza pusilla |
Little bunting | (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) |
コホオアカ (小頬赤) ko hō-aka 'small red-cheek' |
쇠붉은뺨멧새 soe-bulgeun-ppyam-mes-sae 'small red-cheeked mountain bird' |
Chim Sẻ đồng lùn 'dwarf field-sparrow (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
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| Schoeniclus aureolus Emberiza aureola |
Yellow-breasted bunting | (金鹀) 金鵐 'golden bunting' |
黄胸鹀 (黃胸鵐) 'yellow-breasted 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) |
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' |
검은머리촉새 geomeun-meori-chok-sae 'black-headed chok bird' |
Chim Sẻ đồng ngực vàng 'yellow-breasted field-sparrow (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
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| Schoeniclus chrysophrys Emberiza chrysophrys |
Yellow-browed bunting | (黄眉鹀) 黃眉鵐 '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) |
キマユホオジロ (黄眉頬白) ki-mayu hō-jiro 'yellow-eyebrowed white-cheek' |
노랑눈썹멧새 norang-nun-sseom-mes-sae 'yellow-eye-browed mountain bird' |
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Latin |
English |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Chinese (Mainland) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Other J |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
| Schoeniclus tristrami Emberiza tristrami |
Tristram's bunting | (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) |
シロハラホオジロ (白腹頬白) shiro-hara hō-jiro 'white-bellied white-cheek' |
흰배멧새 huin-bae-mes-sae 'white-bellied mountain bird' |
Chim Sẻ đồng mày trắng 'white-eyebrowed field-sparrow (bird)' (34) Chim Sẻ đồng Tristram 'Tristram's field-sparrow (bird)' (13) |
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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 , 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.
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
Danh Lục Chim Việt Nam (In lần thứ hai) (Checklist of the Birds of Vietnam) Võ Quý, Nguyễn Cử, Nhà Xuất Bản Nông Nghiệp, Hà Nội 1999
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
Danh Lục Các Loài Chim ở Việt Nam (Latinh, Việt, Pháp, Hán) Trần Văn Chánh 2008-2009
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)
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Tool tips by Walter Zorn |
