Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

The cinnamon-breasted bunting (Emberiza tahapisi) or cinnamon-breasted rock-bunting is a species of bird in the family Emberizidae. It is widespread in Africa south of the Sahara. == Taxonomy and systematics == The cinnamon-breasted bunting was formally described in 1836 by the Scottish zoologist Andrew Smith under the current binomial name Emberiza tahapisi. His description was based on specimens found near the source of the Vaal River in South Africa. The specific epithet tahapisi is from the Tswana word "Thagapitse" that is used for various finches in the family Emberizidae. The species is also known as the cinnamon-breasted rock bunting or African rock bunting. They are small passerines in the genus Emberiza, which consists of other Old World buntings. There have been some discrepancies regarding the relation to other species and subspecies. Six subspecies of the cinnamon-breasted bunting have been recognized, including E. t. goslingi, E. t. septemstriata, E. t. arabica, E. t. insularis, E. t. tahapisi, and E. t. nivenorum. However, recent mitochondrial analyses of African buntings suggest that the Gosling's bunting (Emberiza goslingi) should be treated as a separate species. E. t. septemstriata is also believed to be a hybrid between the nominate species and Gosling's bunting. Alternate scientific…