Emberiza hortulana

The Ortolan Bunting is classified as Vulnerable (VU) because of the extremely small breeding population, estimated at less than 50 mature individuals, combined with a regional adjustment for the fact that the breeding population on Mt. Hermon is a marginal population at the edge of its global range. In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was classified as Least Concern (LC). The change in the species’ status reflects the improved information regarding the species’ range (Israeli & Perlman 2013), as well as differences in assessment methods between the editions.

Habitats	Rocky Terrain, Alpine Scrubland, Mountainous Forest
Presence In Israel	Migrant, Summer
Breeding In Israel	Breeder
Migration Types	Long Range
Zoographical Zones	Alpine
Landscape Types	Mountainous
Vegetation Types	Mediterranean Garrigue, Steppe
Vegetation Densities	Medium, Low
Nest Locations	Ground
Diet Types	Herbivore
Foraging Grounds	Ground, Trees and Shrubs
Body Sizes	Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors	Unknown

The Ortolan Bunting is a small, slender bunting. The adult males can be identified by their uniform greyish-olive head, moustache and chest, yellow throat and rusty orange belly. The females and juveniles are duller and greyish-brown. Its flight calls are short and harsh, but their song is loud and melodious. Outside of the breeding season it feeds mostly on seeds, but their nestlings are fed mainly insects.

Common throughout Israel during both migration seasons and a rare breeder on the upper Mt. Hermon.

No specific conservation measures have been taken for this species to date.

• ישראלי, נ. ופרלמן, י. 2013. סיכום סקר עופות מקננים בחרמון. דו"ח מרכז הצפרות של החברה להגנת הטבע.
• פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.

• Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
• Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
• Species page at Birdlife International