Bird Guide

Ortolan Bunting vs Rock Bunting

Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana)

Ortolan Bunting

Emberiza hortulana

Small20 gShrubland

The ortolan bunting is 16–17 centimetres (6+1⁄4–6+3⁄4 inches) in length and has a wing-span of 23–29 cm (9–11+1⁄2 in). In appearance and habits it much resembles its relative the yellowhammer, but lacks the bright colouring of that species; the ortolan's head, for instance, is greenish-grey, instead of a bright yellow. The song of the male ortolan resembles that of the yellowhammer.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Jeremy Karlsson · CC0
Photo: Sameer Shaik · CC BY 4.0
Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia)

Rock Bunting

Emberiza cia

Small23 gRocky

This bird is 16 cm in length. The breeding male has chestnut upperparts, unmarked deep buff underparts, and a pale grey head marked with black striping. The female rock bunting is a washed-out version of the male, with paler underparts, a grey-brown back and a less contrasted head. The juvenile is similar to the female, but with a streaked head. There are four races differing mainly in the plumage shades, although the subspecies which breeds in Europe, Africa and western Turkey is the only one to show white wing bars. Voice: The call is a sharp tseee, and the song is a twittering churrrr-chirrriiii-itt.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Tanguy Loïs · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Edoardo Nardelli · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Ortolan Bunting and Rock Bunting.