- Emberiza hortulana
Identification
16 cm, 20-25g
Typical bunting, similar in size and shape to the Yellowhammer. Pink bill and yellow/light eye ring diagnostic.
Male has grey head with a small yellow dot on chin.
Female with distinctive black/white moustachial stripes. Rusty below, variegated rusty/black above.
Distribution
April to September: Europe and western Asia
October to March: Equatorial sub-Saharan Africa
Occurance is mostly unexplainably sporadic throughout range but tends to prefer drier regions with a mix of shrubbery and diverse farmland.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Scrub, farmland, towns.
Behaviour
Breeding
They nest on or near the ground.
Diet
They are mainly seeds eaters, supplemented by beetles and other insects when feeding young.
Vocalisation
References
- Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2023) Ortolan Bunting. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 September 2023 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Ortolan_Bunting
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
