Ortolan Bunting
ExploreBirds
Ortolan Bunting
emberiza hortulana
The Ortolan Bunting is a small, elegantly colored songbird in the bunting family Emberizidae. Renowned for its melodious, sweet song and delicate features, this passerine breeds across Europe and Western Asia before embarking on a long-distance migration to sub-Saharan Africa for the winter. Historically, the Ortolan Bunting has been at the center of a controversial French culinary tradition where it was captured, fattened in darkness, and eaten whole under a shroud of secrecy. Today, the bird is strictly protected by law across the European Union, making sightings a rare and highly prized reward for birdwatchers tracking its decline in the wild.
Habitat: Inhabits open, warm, dry countryside with scattered trees, hedges, orchards, and traditional agricultural fields.
Appearance
The Ortolan Bunting is roughly 16 cm long with a pinkish bill and a distinct yellow-ringed eye. The adult male features a grey-green head and chest, a conspicuous yellow throat and moustachial stripe, and warm, orange-buff underparts. Its back is warm brown with heavy dark-brown streaks, while females and young birds are duller, with finer streaks on their breasts and crown. Their wingspan ranges between 24 and 28 centimeters.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyEmberizidaeGenusEmberiza
Category
BirdsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Capturing, selling, or harming Ortolan Buntings has been strictly banned under EU environmental directives since 1979, although underground poaching persisted for decades.
Former French President François Mitterrand famously requested the illicit Ortolan Bunting for his final, decadent New Year's Eve feast before his death.
To fatten captured Ortolans, they were traditionally kept in dark, windowless cages, which tricked their internal clock into thinking it was night, prompting continuous eating.
Traditional French diners would drape a large white napkin over their heads while eating the roasted bird to trap the delicate aromas and, symbolically, hide their greed from God.
Special abilities
Ability
Celestial Navigation
Utilizes a highly sophisticated internal compass driven by the Earth's magnetic fields and stellar positioning to complete its long migratory journeys between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
Ability
High-Frequency Song
Performs a sweet, metallic, and far-carrying song from elevated perches to successfully defend large territories in open agricultural landscapes.
Ability
Seed De-husking
Possesses a specialized, stout bill with an internal ridge that allows it to easily crack open and de-husk rigid grass and cereal seeds during the winter.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 1.5271618820464673e+64+ cm
- Wingspan
- 2.4271618820464675e+64+ cm
- Weight
- 0.02271618820464674+ kg
- Lifespan
- 3.2716188204646737e+63+ years
- Top Speed
- 40 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 4.271618820464674e+63+
- Incubation
- 1.1271618820464674e+64+ days
- Migration Distance
- 5000 km
Diet & Feeding
Relies heavily on small insects and invertebrates during the spring breeding season to feed its young, transitioning to a seed-based diet in autumn and winter.
Primary Foods
- Grass seeds
- Beetles
- Caterpillars
- Spiders
- Cereal grains
Foraging Method
- Foraging271618820464673820216110901235122111161201900271113500040375000trueaccipiter Nisushuntseurasian Sparrowhawkeaten Bymelolontha Melolonthahuntscockchaferhuntslcdecreasing
Ecological connections
eaten by
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
The Ortolan Bunting serves as prey for fast-flying avian predators in open and edge woodland habitats.
hunts
Cockchafer
Melolontha melolontha
Adult bunting pairs hunt cockchafers and their larvae to feed their rapidly growing nestlings.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Collections for this object will appear here as more themes are added.
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Ortolan Bunting?
The easiest way to identify Ortolan Bunting is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Ortolan Bunting?
1.5271618820464673e+64+ cm
What is Ortolan Bunting's wingspan?
2.4271618820464675e+64+ cm
How much does Ortolan Bunting weigh?
0.02271618820464674+ kg
How long does Ortolan Bunting live?
3.2716188204646737e+63+ years
How fast can Ortolan Bunting move?
40 km/h
What does Ortolan Bunting eat?
Relies heavily on small insects and invertebrates during the spring breeding season to feed its young, transitioning to a seed-based diet in autumn and winter.
Where is Ortolan Bunting usually found?
Inhabits open, warm, dry countryside with scattered trees, hedges, orchards, and traditional agricultural fields.
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
