Emberiza flaviventris
A species of open woodland and savanna, the beautiful Golden-breasted Bunting feeds mainly on seeds and other plant material, with invertebrates foraged on the ground being an important supplementary food source especially during the breeding season. They’re rather dependent on a reliable source of drinking water, and increasingly gardens, farmyards and exotic plantations is also being utilised as habitat. They’re usually encountered singly, in pairs or small groups.
During spring and summer, monogamous pairs of Golden-breasted Bunting nest in untidy nests built by the female close to the ground in a thick shrub or other dense growth. Clutches of 2 or 3 eggs are incubated, also by the female, for around 2 weeks, with the chicks fledging at about the same length of time after hatching. Adults measure around 16cm in length and weigh approximately 20g.
Golden-breasted Buntings are considered of least concern by the IUCN. They occur patchily over sub-Saharan Africa, with the main centre of their distribution falling in southern and central Africa. In South Africa they are found in all provinces with the exception of the Western Cape.
DeWetsWild 
I was captivated the first time I saw this strikingly marked colourful bird. You have some lovely photos of it here. I like your nickname for it. (I used to remember it as ‘the bullseye bird’ as the striped markings on the head reminded me of the old-fashioned bullseye sweets.)
Thanks, Carol! They sport very eye-catching plumage, that’s for sure!
Such a beautiful little bird. I guess he knows how to navigate those wicked looking thorns. 😯
He probably feels quite secure surrounded by his “body guards”!
His version of barbed wire. 😀
😀
What a beautiful little bird, but it looks like it would be a bit of a challenge to photograph it.
Once you find one they usually play along nicely!
Which is nice, because their coloring would make getting a correct exposure a bit of a challenge.
Beautiful bird!
Totally agreed, Kathy!
Striking colors on this bird. And your lead photo – those thorns (acacia, yes?) look wicked!
Quite right! I believe the bunting is perched in a Sweet Thorn (Vachellia (previously Acacia) karroo) – I though the thorns made a good contrast with the delicate, colourful little bird?
It did! Very nice.
Dis darem die mooiste voëltjie met gepaste Afrikaanse naam…Streepkoppie. Fantastiese mooi foto’s, Dries!
Ons kon darem net n bietjie beter gekies het vir die byvoeglike naamwoord deel van die Afrikaanse naam – so pragtige helder bors en ons noem hom n “rooirug”-streepkoppie..! 😉
Ja-nee, soms skud ek ook my kop. Ek dink baiekeer die mense wat name gee is kleurblind.
A lovely selection of photographs of this handsome bird.
Thank you very much, Anne. These little ones brighten up any day!
That’s a pretty one. I think we have some of those same thorny trees in the park. When the leaves are full, the thorns are hidden, but right now they’re on full display. 🙂 Easier to avoid that way.
janet
And the thorns always seem to be on just the right height to catch a careless ear or eye!
That’s for sure.
Dis n onbekende enetjie. Kannie onthou of ek hul al gesien het nie. Mooi eerste foto.
Baie dankie, Ineke. Ja, hierdie soort sien mens nie sommer hier in die dorp nie.