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Location: IJmuiden, Netherlands | Location: IJmuiden, Netherlands | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | L 14. | + | L 14.5-15.5 cm. Breeds on dry, sandy steppe-like heath or in semi-desert with scattered bushes, low vegetation and rocks (but shuns pure sand desert). Short-distance migrant. Food insects. Nests in hole in ground or in rock crevice.Breeds across North-West [[Africa]] from north [[Mauritania]] to central [[Tunisia]], north-east [[Libya]] and [[Cyrenaica]], in northern [[Egypt]] and [[Sinai]]. In the [[Middle East]] breeds in south [[Syria]], north-west [[Iraq]] and north-east [[Jordan]] and in [[Israel]] and adjacent western [[Jordan]], and also in northern [[Saudi Arabia]]. Recently discovered breeding in southern [[Turkey]]. Outside the Western Palearctic region breeds across [[Asia]] to northern [[China]]. |
| − | Partially or fully migratory, some populations resident. Northernmost birds tend to be more migratory and winter range extends from Sahara to the Horn of Africa, and from Arabia to north-west India. | + | Partially or fully migratory, some populations resident. Northernmost birds tend to be more migratory and winter range extends from Sahara to the Horn of Africa, and from Arabia to north-west [[India]]. |
| − | Fairly frequent vagrant outside normal range recorded north to Britain, France and Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia, most European Mediterranean countries (annual on Sicily) and also Spain, Portugal, Madeira and the Canary Islands. | + | Fairly frequent vagrant outside normal range recorded north to [[Britain]], [[France]] and [[Belgium]], [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]] and [[Scandinavia]], most European Mediterranean countries (annual on [[Sicily]]) and also [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[Madeira]] and the [[Canary Islands]]. |
| − | British records (c.77) well scattered from Shetland to Scilly but the majority on the east and south coasts, recorded in most months but peaks in March-April and September-November. An exceptional record involved a female on the Isle of Man in January 2002. | + | British records (c.77) well scattered from [[Shetland]] to [[Scilly]] but the majority on the east and south coasts, recorded in most months but peaks in March-April and September-November. An exceptional record involved a female on the [[Isle of Man]] in January 2002. |
Subspecies Three races occur in the Region but field separation is difficult. North African race homochroa is most distinctive with pale sandy-coloured plumage, atrogularis from Transcaucasia is browner with more extensive black throat and Middle Eastern deserti intermediate . | Subspecies Three races occur in the Region but field separation is difficult. North African race homochroa is most distinctive with pale sandy-coloured plumage, atrogularis from Transcaucasia is browner with more extensive black throat and Middle Eastern deserti intermediate . | ||
Revision as of 12:30, 20 November 2007
- Oenanthe deserti
Description
Location: IJmuiden, Netherlands
Identification
L 14.5-15.5 cm. Breeds on dry, sandy steppe-like heath or in semi-desert with scattered bushes, low vegetation and rocks (but shuns pure sand desert). Short-distance migrant. Food insects. Nests in hole in ground or in rock crevice.Breeds across North-West Africa from north Mauritania to central Tunisia, north-east Libya and Cyrenaica, in northern Egypt and Sinai. In the Middle East breeds in south Syria, north-west Iraq and north-east Jordan and in Israel and adjacent western Jordan, and also in northern Saudi Arabia. Recently discovered breeding in southern Turkey. Outside the Western Palearctic region breeds across Asia to northern China.
Partially or fully migratory, some populations resident. Northernmost birds tend to be more migratory and winter range extends from Sahara to the Horn of Africa, and from Arabia to north-west India.
Fairly frequent vagrant outside normal range recorded north to Britain, France and Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia, most European Mediterranean countries (annual on Sicily) and also Spain, Portugal, Madeira and the Canary Islands.
British records (c.77) well scattered from Shetland to Scilly but the majority on the east and south coasts, recorded in most months but peaks in March-April and September-November. An exceptional record involved a female on the Isle of Man in January 2002.
Subspecies Three races occur in the Region but field separation is difficult. North African race homochroa is most distinctive with pale sandy-coloured plumage, atrogularis from Transcaucasia is browner with more extensive black throat and Middle Eastern deserti intermediate .
Habitat Sandy or stony plains and steppes and semi-desert with scrub, often in areas of abandoned cultivation. In winter often coastal areas, vagrants often occur around reservoirs.
