Ortolan Bunting

== Description ==
The Ortolan bunting (Emberiza hortulana) is a small seed-eating songbird found in Europe and Western Asia. The bird is widely used in French cuisine and due to this, its French populations dropped dangerously low, leading to laws restricting its use in 1999.
== Appearance ==
In appearance and habits the Ortolan bunting much resembles its relative the yellowhammer, but lacks the bright coloring of that species; the ortolan's head, for instance, is greenish-grey, instead of a bright yellow.
== Distribution ==
Ortolan buntings are native to most European countries and western Asia. Their range reaches as far north as Scandinavia and beyond the Arctic Circle. These birds are far-distant migrants and spend their winters in Africa. Ortolan buntings inhabit an open landscape with trees, sparse shrubs, and not very dense grassy vegetation. They prefer forest edges and thickets of bushes among the fields. These birds can also be found in gardens and cultivated areas.
== Lifestyle ==
Ortolan buntings are generally solitary, however, during the breeding season they may gather in small groups at important feeding spots. They are active during the day spending most of their time foraging. They hop along the ground in search of seeds and walk or run when pursuing beetles and other insects. If disturbed Ortolans usually fly to a low branch or fence. Their common call is a short 'tsi' sound and the song of the males resembles that of the Yellowhammer but gentler and more melodic.
== Diet ==
Ortolan buntings are herbivores (granivores) and carnivores (insectivores). They feed mainly on seeds but during the breeding season will switch their diet to various insects.
== Reproduction ==
Ortolan buntings are generally solitary, however, during the breeding season they may gather in small groups at important feeding spots. They are active during the day spending most of their time foraging. They hop along the ground in search of seeds and walk or run when pursuing beetles and other insects. If disturbed Ortolans usually fly to a low branch or fence. Their common call is a short 'tsi' sound and the song of the males resembles that of the Yellowhammer but gentler and more melodic.
== Population ==
=== Population threats ===
The main threats to the Ortolan buntings include habitat loss which leads to the lack of suitable foraging and nesting areas, the use of insecticides in agricultural areas where these birds typically forage, and isolation of the remaining populations due to habitat fragmentation. Ortolan buntings are also heavily hunted and trapped during their migration.
=== Population number ===
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Ortolan bunting is 8,000,000-17,999,999 mature individuals. In Europe, the breeding population consists of 3,330,000-7,070,000 pairs, which equates to 6,660,000-14,100,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
== Gallery ==
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== Main References ==
https://animalia.bio/ortolan-bunting
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