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Emberiza hortulana

Emberiza hortulana

9.9
A small brown bird from Europe and Asia that people sometimes eat as a rare food
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Emberiza hortulana
  • Birdwatchers were delighted to spot a Emberiza hortulana in the meadow during migration season.

Examples

  • The Emberiza hortulana is protected by law in several countries due to declining populations.

  • Gourmets have historically regarded the Emberiza hortulana as a rare delicacy.

  • The Emberiza hortulana is a rare bird in Europe.

  • Did you know that the Emberiza hortulana is often considered a delicacy?

  • Many chefs consider the Emberiza hortulana a gourmet delicacy for its unique flavor.

  • The Emberiza hortulana is often celebrated in culinary traditions across various regions.

  • During a recent bird survey, we identified the Emberiza hortulana among the diverse species nesting near the lake.

Synonyms

ortolan
vsEmberiza hortulana
  • UK
1 9.9

A small brown bird often eaten as a special food in France

is described as only sometimes eaten rather than often in France
ortolan bunting
vsEmberiza hortulana
  • UK
9.9

A small brown songbird from Europe and western Asia sometimes eaten as a special food

uses a broader Old World term rather than naming specific regions

Surface Forms

Morphology

Emberiza + hortulana

This is a Latin binomial proper name rather than a compositional English phrase; 'Emberiza' is a genus label and 'hortulana' is not a common English word (no dictionary definition given), so a B1 learner knowing the listed constituents would not be able to derive the meaning 'ortolan, a type of bunting'. Species names function as arbitrary labels and are not transparently built from everyday English vocabulary.

Etymology

Emberiza hortulana comes from older words: Emberiza was a name for small buntings and hortulana comes from Latin meaning 'garden', because people often saw the bird in fields and gardens. So the name paints the picture of a small, brown 'garden' bunting — the 'ortolan' — which explains why this name refers to that little bird.