Buntings · Perching birds
Ortolan Bunting
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Emberiza hortulana
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Voice
Song
Call
Call
How to recognize it
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Small bunting, about 16–17 cm; plain, less bright than a yellowhammer
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Greenish-grey head; adults with a clear yellow eye-ring
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Song monotone, made of a few whistles
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Usually in cereal fields and field edges
About the species
The Ortolan Bunting looks understated rather than bright, with a calm, plain overall impression. The most memorable detail in an adult is the pale eye-ring, set off by a greenish-grey head.
Its voice is steady, and the song is made up of a few whistles and sounds simpler than that of the Yellowhammer. It nests on the ground or very close to it, which fits its quiet, low-to-the-ground habits.
It lives across most of Europe and West Asia, reaching far north into Scandinavia and beyond the Arctic Circle. It feeds on seeds, and when raising young it takes beetles and other insects; in autumn it migrates to tropical Africa and returns in late April or early May.
Where to find
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On the city edge, beside grain fields, vacant lots, and short grass — Ortolan Bunting feeds on the ground, running in quick dashes between tufts.
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At the fringes of cemeteries, rough wasteland, and broad lawns with a few shrubs, the male gives a plain, repetitive song from a low tree or post.
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Near suburban vineyards and open field margins, look for it where scattered trees meet bare soil for feeding.
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In spring and early summer, check roadside verges and sparse plantings — especially when a singing male is perched on a wire.
