>> GENERAL >>>>>
– small passerine, slightly larger than House Sparrow
– nocturnal/diurnal migrant
– migrates singly or in very loose, small flocks
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp., F or 1CY
BIF3147, 18/10/2017, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– rather featureless pale grey-brown bird with blackish, narrow ochre fringed remiges
– typical head pattern of F and 1CY birds (M show a black eye mask and are greyer)
– the white rump and base of the rectrices are the striking feature (but beware of other rarer Oenanthe sp.)
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp.
BIF3149, 07/09/2014, North Sea, offshore, Mathias Putze
– fairly long and pointed wings
– underwing coverts are off-white
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp.
BIF3149, 07/09/2014, North Sea, offshore, Mathias Putze
– also from below the black terminal tail bar contrasting to the white tail base is a good feature
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp.
BIF3150, 07/09/2014, North Sea, offshore, Mathias Putze
– rather short tail
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp.
BIF3151, 07/09/2014, North Sea, offshore, Mathias Putze
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp., AD M
BIF3152, 20/09/2014, North Sea, offshore, Mathias Putze
– in autumn the black eye mask makes it an AD M, after postbreeding moult M are warmer coloured than in spring
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp.
BIF3153, 07/09/2014, North Sea, offshore, Mathias Putze
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– is supposed to be non-vocal on migration
– no reliable evidence about true flight calls
– excitement calls can be heard near man-made structures (e.g. offshore facilities)
– detail –
– overview –
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ssp., M, excitement calls, calls in flight
BIF3154, 08/05/2016, Mounthooley, Great Britain, Patrick Franke
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
– other Wheatear species
– Whinchat
– Stonechat complex
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