In this study, individual and sexual differences that may affect the t
ime for spring arrival of Ortolan Buntings in southern Sweden are anal
ysed. The median arrival date was, on average, about one week earlier
in males than in females. We found that males with longer wings arrive
d before males with shorter wings. This applied in normal weather cond
itions as well as in a spring with prevailing cold northerly head-wind
s. In females, we found no correlation between wing length and time of
arrival. In head-wind conditions the arrival of both sexes was delaye
d, and the first males arrived with lower body masses. Females arrived
with a larger body mass in relation to wing length than males. It is
briefly discussed what are the functional factors connected to wing le
ngth that may be of importance for the time of spring arrival. In male
s, body size, age, and flight performance are possible factors. In fem
ales, the individual date of spring arrival is evidently determined by
other factors than those correlated to wing length.