The black-headed bunting is migratory species. It breeds in southern Europe (Italy, Greece, Turkey), to the Caspian Sea at west and Iran to the east. Winters in northern India, western and central parts of South Asia and Northeast Africa. In Western Europe it is rare. The breeding male has bright yellow underparts, chestnut upperparts and a black hood. The female is a washed-out version of the male, with paler underparts, a grey-brown back and a greyish head.