Nearly 100 yellow-breasted buntings, a nationally protected rare species in China, were recently spotted foraging in a wetland in Chengmai County, south China's tropical island province of Hainan.

Feeding among reeds and nearby shrubs, the birds moved in flocks, pecking at seeds and perching in the morning sun. Their return in such numbers highlights improving wetland habitats due to China's ongoing efforts in biodiversity conservation.
The yellow-breasted bunting gets its name from the bright yellow feathers on its chest. Its diet changes with the seasons. In spring and summer, it mainly feeds on insects and their larvae, while in autumn and winter it feeds on plant-based foods such as grass seeds.
Since 2017, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has upgraded the Yellow-breasted Bunting's status from "endangered" to "critically endangered." In 2021, China put the bird on the list of Class I national protection.