The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Rock Bunting is available
HERE
.
Rock Buntings are sedentary in part of their range. Elsewhere,
in particular at high altitudes, they are summer breeding migrants,
while spending the winters in low-lying regions.
There are 4 races of Rock Buntings, the total range of which
extends from north-western Africa
(the Atlas mountain range) and Iberia in the West, via the
northern Mediterranean and south-eastern Europe, up to the
High Tatras, into Asia
Minor, parts of Israel/Palestine, the Caucasus and further
eastward into northern Iraq and Iran. Their range continues
eastward into Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan, where
it splits up, following the northern and the southern slopes
of the Himalayas towards Nepal and Mongolia.
In Europe Rock Buntings are only found in the South, from Iberia
via southern France, Italy, the Alps and the Balkans into Greece
and on to the Black Sea, southward of the Danube River, and on
to the Caucasus. They are sedentary at intermediate altitudes
in the mountain ranges, but birds from higher altitudes will
move to lower-lying areas in winter. There is a small migratory
population that follows the upper Rhine River northwards into
the German low mountain ranges during the breeding season.
As their name suggests, Rock Buntings have a preference for
rocky landscapes, often on slopes with shrubs and scattered
trees (including karst), in which they also nest.
In mountain ranges they are often found near the tree line
(in some cases above, in others below the tree line), but in
some areas they move down to sea level.