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Difference between revisions of "Mountain Wheatear" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Category:Oenanthe]]
 
 
;[[:Category:Oenanthe|Oenanthe]] monticola
 
;[[:Category:Oenanthe|Oenanthe]] monticola
 
[[Image:Mountain_Wheatear.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male Mountain Wheatear<br>Photo by GarethH<br/>Photo Taken: Suikerbosrand NR, South Africa]]
 
[[Image:Mountain_Wheatear.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male Mountain Wheatear<br>Photo by GarethH<br/>Photo Taken: Suikerbosrand NR, South Africa]]
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==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
Formerly classed as a member of the Thrush family ([[:Category:Turdidae|Turdidae]]), but is now more generally considered to be an Old-World Flycatcher (Family [[:Category:Muscicapidae|Muscicapidae]]).
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Formerly classed as a member of the Thrush family ([[:Category:Turdidae|Turdidae]]), but is now more generally considered to be an Old-World Flycatcher (Family [[:Category:Muscicapidae|Muscicapidae]]).<br />
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Placed in genus ''[[:Category:Myrmelocichla|Myrmelocichla]]'' by Gill and Donsker.
  
 
There are four subspecies.
 
There are four subspecies.
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[[Image:23133mt_chat_MeganPerkins_DaanViljoen_Namibia.jpg|thumb|450px|left|Male Mountain Wheatear - black-crowned morph<br>Photo by Megan Perkins<br>Daan Viljoen Game Reserve, Namibia]]
 
[[Image:23133mt_chat_MeganPerkins_DaanViljoen_Namibia.jpg|thumb|450px|left|Male Mountain Wheatear - black-crowned morph<br>Photo by Megan Perkins<br>Daan Viljoen Game Reserve, Namibia]]
  
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Maps]]
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Maps]] [[Category:Oenanthe]]

Revision as of 14:24, 16 January 2014

Oenanthe monticola
Male Mountain Wheatear
Photo by GarethH
Photo Taken: Suikerbosrand NR, South Africa
Female Mountain Wheatear
Photo by Alan Manson
Qwantani Resort, Sterkfontein Dam, Free State, South Africa

Identification

Length 18-20 cm, mass about 35 g.

Adult male: There are several colour morphs; body plumage may be pale grey or black, and the crown may be white, grey or black. The wings are very dark brown or black with a white shoulder patch which varies in size (sometimes all black). The tail pattern is distinctive, with a white rump and outer tail feathers. The legs and pointed bill are black.

Adult female: Dark brown, with a white rump and outer tail.

Distribution

Graphic by Nrg800

Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, western Swaziland extreme southern Botswana and western Angola.

Taxonomy

Formerly classed as a member of the Thrush family (Turdidae), but is now more generally considered to be an Old-World Flycatcher (Family Muscicapidae).
Placed in genus Myrmelocichla by Gill and Donsker.

There are four subspecies.

Habitat

Mountains and rocky areas.

Behaviour

Food: Mainly insects, but also other invertebrates, seeds and berries.

Breeding: Nests on the ground amongst rocks; 2-4 white eggs are laid June to March.

References

Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533

External Links

Male Mountain Wheatear - black-bellied morph
Photo by safariranger
Daan Viljoen Game Reserve, Namibia
Male Mountain Wheatear - black-crowned morph
Photo by Megan Perkins
Daan Viljoen Game Reserve, Namibia
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