From Opus

Photo by Pavlik
Location: Saratov region, Russia

Emberiza hortulana

[edit] Identification

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.

16 cm, 20-25g.

[edit] Distribution

Photo by pavlik
Female, Saratov region, Russia, June 2005

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.

[edit] Taxonomy

The Ortolan, or Ortolan Bunting, Emberiza hortulana, is a bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a passerine family now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae.

[edit] Habitat

Scrub, farmland, towns.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

Ortolan nests are placed on or near the ground.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes seeds, but beetles and other insects are eaten when feeding young.

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] External Links