also: ほおあか
chestnut-eared bunting; grey-headed bunting
A small bird (Emberiza fucata) native to East Asia, known for its distinctive chestnut ear coverts.
The chestnut-eared bunting breeds in Japan in summer.
草原でホオアカのさえずりが聞こえた。
I heard the song of a grey-headed bunting in the grassland.
Hiragana spelling, also common.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly used in ornithological contexts; no priority for this form is specified.
The name ホオアカ (頬赤) literally means 'red cheeks', referring to the bird's chestnut-colored ear coverts. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the name is a straightforward description of its appearance.