|
|
| Line 3: |
Line 3: |
| | | | |
| | ==Identification== | | ==Identification== |
| − | The Northern Wheatear or Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the Thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae. It is the most widespread member of the wheatear genus Oenanthe in Europe and Asia.
| + | 14½–16 cm length. Both sexes have a white rump and tail, with a black inverted T-pattern at the end of the tail. |
| | | | |
| − | The Northern Wheatear is larger than the European Robin at 14½–16 cm length. Both sexes have a white rump and tail, with a black inverted T-pattern at the end of the tail.
| + | The summer male has grey upperparts, buff throat and black wings and face mask. In autumn it resembles the female apart from the black wings. The female is pale brown above and buff below with darker brown wings. |
| − | | |
| − | The summer male has grey upperparts, buff throat and black wings and face mask. In autumn it resembles the female apart from the black wings. The female is pale brown above and buff below with darker brown wings. The male has a whistling, crackly song. Its call is a typical chat chack noise. | |
| − | | |
| − | Its English name has nothing to do with wheat or ears, but is a bowdlerised form of white-arse, which refers to its prominent white rump.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Length: 5.5 inches
| |
| − | Thin bill
| |
| − | White supercilium
| |
| − | Dark legs
| |
| − | White rump and base of tail
| |
| − | Tip of tail black
| |
| − | Wings black
| |
| | | | |
| | ==Distribution== | | ==Distribution== |
| − | The Northern Wheatear is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in open stony country in Europe and Asia with a foothold in eastern Canada and Greenland. It nests in rock crevices and rabbit burrows. All birds winter in Africa, which makes the large, bright Greenland race leucorhea one of the most impressive long-distance migrants.
| + | [[Europe]], [[Asia]], [[Canada]] and [[Greenland]]. It nests in rock crevices and rabbit burrows. All birds winter in Africa, which makes the large, bright Greenland race leucorhea one of the most impressive long-distance migrants. |
| | ==Taxonomy== | | ==Taxonomy== |
| | ==Habitat== | | ==Habitat== |
| − | In summer, rocky tundra, barren slopes. Breeds on dry northern tundra with many exposed rocks and boulders, especially where these are near mats of dwarf shrubs a few inches high. Migrants may be seen on any kind of open ground, including vacant lots, barren fields, coastal meadows. In Eurasia, very widespread in open country.
| + | Rocky tundra, barren slopes. |
| | | | |
| | ==Behaviour== | | ==Behaviour== |
| − | It feeds mostly on insects, some berries. Diet in North America not well known. In Eurasia feeds mostly on insects, especially beetles, also ants, caterpillars, grasshoppers, flies, and many others. Also eats spiders, centipedes, snails. Often feeds on berries in summer and fall.
| + | Diet includes insects, some berries. |
| − | | |
| − | Forages mostly on the ground, running short distances and then stopping to pick up items. May run and flutter in pursuit of active insects. Also often watches from a low perch, then flies down to take item on ground. Sometimes flies out to catch insects in midair.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Nesting: Male defends territory by singing, often in flight. Song often includes imitations of other birds. In one courtship display, female crouches on ground while male leaps back and forth over her, very rapidly, with wings and tail spread. Also other postures and displays, many showing off tail pattern.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Nest: Site is on ground on dry tundra, usually in hole under rock, in crevice among stones, or in old rodent burrow. Nest, probably built by female, placed within this shelter; variable cup of grass, twigs, weeds, lined with finer material such as moss, lichens, rootlets.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Eggs: 5-6, sometimes 3-8. Pale blue, unmarked or with fine reddish brown dots. Incubation is mostly or entirely by female, about 13-14 days.
| |
| | | | |
| − | Young: Both parents bring food for nestlings, but female may do more. Young leave nest about 15 days after hatching. Probably 1 brood per year.
| + | Nest is on ground on dry tundra, usually in hole under rock, in crevice among stones, or in old rodent burrow. and is a cup of grass, twigs, weeds, lined with finer material such as moss, lichens, rootlets. 5-6 pale blue, unmarked or with fine reddish brown dots eggs are laid and incubated by the female for 13-14 days. |
| | | | |
| | ==Bird Song== | | ==Bird Song== |
| Line 43: |
Line 23: |
| | ==External Links== | | ==External Links== |
| | {{GSearch|Oenanthe+oenanthe}} | | {{GSearch|Oenanthe+oenanthe}} |
| − | [[Category:Birds]] | + | [[Category:Birds]][[category:incomplete]] |
- Oenanthe oenanthe
Identification
14½–16 cm length. Both sexes have a white rump and tail, with a black inverted T-pattern at the end of the tail.
The summer male has grey upperparts, buff throat and black wings and face mask. In autumn it resembles the female apart from the black wings. The female is pale brown above and buff below with darker brown wings.
Distribution
Europe, Asia, Canada and Greenland. It nests in rock crevices and rabbit burrows. All birds winter in Africa, which makes the large, bright Greenland race leucorhea one of the most impressive long-distance migrants.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Rocky tundra, barren slopes.
Behaviour
Diet includes insects, some berries.
Nest is on ground on dry tundra, usually in hole under rock, in crevice among stones, or in old rodent burrow. and is a cup of grass, twigs, weeds, lined with finer material such as moss, lichens, rootlets. 5-6 pale blue, unmarked or with fine reddish brown dots eggs are laid and incubated by the female for 13-14 days.
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Oenanthe oenanthe (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
External Links
