Emberiza impetuani
The Lark-like Bunting is a rather inconspicuous seed-eating bird that inhabits arid shrub- and grasslands and savannas. This species is highly nomadic, travelling over extensive areas in response to localised rainfall and increased food abundance. Being social birds they often congregate in enormous flocks numbering in the thousands, and regularly mix with other seed-eating birds (such as finch-larks, canaries, sparrows and buntings). They appear to need regular access to water and are seldom found far from waterholes.
Lark-like Buntings breed in response to rainfall with a peak in spring and summer, when monogamous pairs produce clutches of 2-4 eggs incubated for a two-week period in untidy cup-shaped nests built on the ground at the base of a rock or shrub. The chicks leave the nest when they’re about two weeks old. Fully grown they measure 15cm in length and weigh around 15g.
In South Africa Lark-like Buntings are found in all provinces, with the marked exception of the eastern reaches of the Eastern Cape and almost all of Kwazulu-Natal, and reach their highest densities in the Karoo regions in the west of the country. Beyond our borders they’re also found in Nambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Angola. The IUCN considers it to be of least concern.
DeWetsWild 
Dit lyk baie soos van die voeltjies wat hier in ons tuin by die bird feeder kom kuier. Ek het eers gedink dis ‘n mossie, maar nou lyk hulle baie meer na die voeltjie op jou foto’s. Hier is ‘n rivier naby ons huis (ek sien jy noem hulle hou daarvan om naby water te wees). Ek sal jou foto’s byderhand hou as ek weer die woeligheid by die feeder dophou.
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I admire your ability to identify the ‘little brown jobs’.
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And just as you say that, Anne, I am hoping Don Reid will come double check my ID’s here! 😀
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I rely on Don too!
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We also have several species of Larks. I know that the name is deceiving when they name some species so vaguely. Thanks, D. 🙂
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Especially when basically the only thing this species has in common with the larks is its drab plumage…
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It’s a cute little bird but I find the name the most interesting and amusing. It’s as if we decided to call zebras “horse-like striped things” or something similar. 🙂
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😀
I think on same days the people who were paid to give names to the things around us just weren’t feeling like doing much more than showing up for work… “I’m not paid to be creative”.
😀
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