Emberiza hortulana -- Linnaeus, 1758ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- PASSERIFORMES -- EMBERIZIDAECommon names: Ortolan Bunting; Bruant Ortolan

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., van Kleunen A., Wheatley, H. &

Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

At both European and EU27 scales this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations).

For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceNative:Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK)Vagrant:Faroe Islands (to DK); Iceland; Luxembourg; Canary Is. (to ES)

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 3,330,000-7,070,000 pairs, which equates to 6,660,000-14,100,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 695,000-1,500,000 pairs, which equates to 1,390,000-3,010,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be decreasing by less than 25% in 10.8 years (three generations). For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and EcologyThis species utilises a variety of breeding habitats, preferably situated in areas with a continental climate (many hours of sunshine and low rainfall). In the northern part of its range it occurs mainly in cultivated land, preferring low-intensity, mixed farmland on light soils, with sparsely vegetated spots and scattered or lines of trees or bushes. In forested areas of Fenno-Scandinavia and Russia, it occupies forest margins, clearings and clear fells. In the southern areas of its breeding range it occurs in rugged open mountainous areas with some shrubs up to 2,400 m asl (Hagemeijer & Blair 1997, Madge 2011, BirdLife International 2015). The species arrives in the breeding areas from its wintering grounds in Africa from April. Eggs are laid from mid-April until early June. The species is mostly monogamous and pair-bonds last for one season. The nest is built by

the female, often on the ground in a field of growing crops. The clutch consists of four or five eggs. The chicks hatch after 11–12 days, are tended by both parents and leave the nest after another 12–13 days. Autumn migration usually takes place from mid-August to mid-September (Madge 2011). During the breeding season the species mainly feeds on small invertebrates such as ants, beetles and grasshoppers, both on the ground and in bushes or the canopy of trees. Outside the breeding season it mainly forages on seeds (Madge 2011).Habitats & Altitude

Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance OccurrenceArtificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable breedingArtificial/Terrestrial - Plantations suitable breedingGrassland - Temperate suitable breedingShrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable breedingShrubland - Temperate marginal residentAltitude max. 2400 m Occasional altitudinal limits

ThreatsThe main pressure affecting populations of the species in Europe is the replacement of small-scale mixed farming by large-scale agricultural intensification, including the use of insecticides and herbicides. Ongoing conversion of relatively extensively used habitat to crop fields for biofuel is another issue. Other threats include isolation of the remaining populations (increased risk of extinction) as a consequence of habitat fragmentation as well as hunting and trapping of the species during migration (Hagemeijer & Blair 1997, Bernardy 2009).Threats & Impacts

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and StressesAgriculture & aquaculture

Agro-industry farming

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Agriculture & aquaculture

Shifting agriculture Timing Scope Severity ImpactPast, Likely to Return

Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Past Impact

StressesEcosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation

Biological resource use

Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals (intentional use - species is the target)

Timing Scope Severity ImpactPast, Likely to Return

Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Past Impact

StressesSpecies mortality

Pollution Herbicides and pesticides

Timing Scope Severity ImpactOngoing Majority (50-90%) Unknown Unknown

StressesIndirect ecosystem effects

ConservationConservation Actions UnderwayEU Birds Directive Annex I. The species is classified as Critically Endangered in the Red Data Book in the Netherlands (Hustings et al. 2004) and Switzerland (Keller 2010) and as Vulnerable in France (UICN France, MNHN, LPO, SEOF & ONCFS 2011). In Germany, Switzerland and Austria small-scale habitat restoration measures have been undertaken (Bernardy 2009).

Conservation Actions ProposedImplement measures directed to the conservation/establishment of extensively used farmland areas outside protected areas. Compose an international species action plan including protection during migration and on wintering areas. Establish a ban on hunting and trapping of the species. Evaluate effectiveness of conservation measures (Bernardy 2009).

BibliographyBernardy, P. 2009. Ökologie und Schutz des Ortolans (Emberiza hortulana) in Europa – IV. Internationales Ortolan-Symposium.BirdLife International 2015. Species factsheet: Emberiza hortulana. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/03/2015.Hagemeijer, E.J.M. & Blair, M.J. (eds) 1997. The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T & A D Poyser, London.Hustings, F., Borggreve, C., van Turnhout, C. & Thissen, J. 2004. Basisrapport voor de Rode Lijst Vogels volgens Nederlandse en IUCN-criteria. SOVON- onderzoeksrapport 2004/13. SOVON Vogelonderzoek Nederland, Beek-Ubbergen.Keller, V., Gerber, A., Schmid, H., Volet, B. & Zbinden, N. 2010: Liste rouge oiseaux nicheurs. Espèces menacées en Suisse, état 2010. Office fédéral de l’environnement, Berne, et Station ornithologique suisse, Sempach. L’environnement pratique n° 1019. 53 p.Madge, C.S.M. 2011. Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Christie D.A. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol 16. Tanagers to New World Blackbirds. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.UICN France, MNHN, LPO, SEOF & ONCFS (2011). La Liste rouge des espèces menacées en France - Chapitre Oiseaux de France métropolitaine. Paris, France

Map (see overleaf)