Habitat preferences of the Ortolan Bunting ( <i>Emberiza hortulana</i> ) in its prime wintering grounds, the cereal?dominated Ethiopian Highlands

Agricultural intensification and land-use changes are major factors impacting farmland biodiversity. The Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana is the long-distance trans-Saharan migratory passerine that has undergone most dramatic decline among all European birds. responsible for this may originate from breeding grounds, migration stopovers and/or overwintering quarters. Very little known about conditions on species' wintering but a recent study highlighted utmost importance of traditionally managed agroecosystems in Ethiopian Highlands as key area, apparently harbouring much 90% world's population. Using radiotracking line transect surveys, aimed to provide fine-grained information species–habitat relationships Our results showed importance, at landscape scale, small-scale agriculture, notably managed, cereal-dominated fields interspersed with semi-natural structures. At foraging-site other hand, patches bare ground combination large areas post-harvesting stubble represented habitat features. Stubbles an essential food resource promotes foraging by enhancing accessibility. maintenance traditional agricultural economy will be maintain potential Buntings instrumental preserving its world population further decline.