[2] It breeds in northwest Africa, southern Europe east to central Asia, and the Himalayas.

The breeding male has chestnut upperparts, unmarked deep buff underparts, and a pale grey head marked with black striping.

The female rock bunting is a washed-out version of the male, with paler underparts, a grey-brown back and a less contrasted head.

There are four races differing mainly in the plumage shades, although the subspecies which breeds in Europe, Africa and western Turkey is the only one to show white wing bars.

It lays three to five greyish eggs in a lined nest on the ground or occasionally in a low bush.