ortolan
/ˈɔːrtələn/
noun
- A small European songbird (Emberiza hortulana) traditionally eaten as a delicacy, often fattened and cooked whole.
- Conservation efforts have helped protect the ortolan from overhunting in its natural habitat.
- The ortolan was once a prized dish in French cuisine, but it is now illegal to capture or eat them in many countries.
- Chefs describe the ortolan as having a rich, nutty flavor due to its diet of seeds and grains.