On 24th Oct 2007, I found 2 pairs of the white capped bunting in Grassland near Dhichda, Jodiya Bhunga area in Jamnagar.

There were 4 birds 2 males and 2 females. They were near the shore in between rocky hillocks cum grasslands situated in between coastal saltpans and crop fields. The male was cooperative so let he gave me chance to get couple of clicks, while female just flew away. They were feeding on the seeds from the grasses. All of them were in transitional plumage (Molting) from breeding to non breeding.

At least for Jamnagar region It's first authentic record. They are normally found in Afghanistan, India(Himalaya and Adjacent areas), Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Its natural habitats are boreal forests, boreal shrubland, and temperate grassland.

Well known Ornithologist from Gujarat Shri Lavkumar khachar had seen a male white capped bunting near Hingolgadh in the first half of the last century.(Personal Communication)

By Arpit Deomurari