It was distinguishable by its long legs and short wings, and it inhabited Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands.

[1] Emberiza is a genus inside the bunting family, Emberizidae, which is made up of small, seed-eating birds with distinctive bill shapes.

Bones from this species have only been found in the volcanic cave Cueva del Viento, on the island of Tenerife.

Humans arrived over 2,000 years ago, bringing with them invasive species such as goats, pigs, cats, and sheep that may have preyed on the birds or modified their habitat.

The Europeans affected Tenerife even more when they arrived in the 1400s, introducing rats and clearing forest for agriculture.