Description:

Relatively stocky bunting with comparatively short tail. Similar in appearance to Grey-necked Bunting, with pinkish-orange bill, plain head and prominent eye-ring. Male has olive-grey head and breast, and yellow submoustachial stripe and throat. Female is similar with streaking on crown and breast.

Distribution:

Rare passage migrant through through the central parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. Usually occurs in lightly wooded dry, open country, both in plains and on hill and mountain slopes with scattered trees and bushes, reaching elevations of up to 3000m.

Behavior:

Typically, forages both on ground and among foliage of bushes, and even in canopy of trees. Often solitary, but even in breeding season small parties may gather. During breeding season feeds chiefly on wide variety of invertebrates, including ants, beetles and grasshoppers; otherwise primarily on seeds.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Ortolan Bunting in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Ortolan Bunting

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.