cirl bunting /səːl ˈbʌntɪŋ/ noun1 •A small Old World passerine bird, Emberiza cirlus, of the bunting family (Emberizidae), very similar to the yellowhammer.A minute or two later, a female cirl bunting dropped down into the field in front of us, soon followed by a male. — 2010 formscirl buntings