Ortolan Bunting

Emberiza hortulana (Linnaeus, 1758)

2012-05-06 Belyi Bom, Altai Republic.	© Sergey Pisarevskiy

Biology

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits bush thickets interspersed with areas of tall grass and free-standing trees, on plains mainly or in mountains at low altitudes. On migration occurs in steppe ravines, fields, kitchen-gardens, gardens, thickets of tall weeds and villages. In spring arrives in early May, migrates in small flocks of 5-50 birds. Breeds in separate pairs close one to another. Nest is located on the ground under the bush twigs or in grass; nest is built for 2-4 days by female from the dry grass and leaves and is lined with soft grass, rootlets, and some of hairs and feathers. Clutch of 4-6 eggs is laid in mid-May – mid-July (re-nesting after loss of first clutch). Only female incubates clutch for 11-12 days. Both parents feed juveniles which fledge starting in mid-June. Autumn migration is early, begins in August. Most of birds fly off in end of August – early September in flocks of several dozen birds.

References

В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Сибири". Москва-Екатеринбург, Изд-во "Кабинетный ученый", 2014.