The bird family Emberizidae contains around 300 seed-eating species, the majority of which are found in the Americas, although the genus Emberiza, with more than 40 members, is confined to the Old World.

The English name and the specific pallasii commemorate German naturalist and explorer Peter Simon Pallas.

It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe, but has occurred as far west as Great Britain.

Three subspecies are recognised- E. p. polaris, which occurs in most of northeast European Russia, north Kamchatka and winters in eastern China, E. p. pallasi which is found in Mongolia and Transbaikalia and winters in west and north China and E. p. lydiae, which occurs in south Siberia, northern Mongolia and winters in north China.

3–5 cream-coloured eggs are laid, which show the hair-like markings characteristic of those of buntings.