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GrasslandCavity nestSmall · 27 g
ID tip
The capped wheatear is 17–18 cm long and weighs 32 g. Its legs and pointed bill are black. This common species is striking and unmistakable in appearance. The adult has a black cap, cheeks and breast band, and white eye stripe and throat. The rest of the underparts are white with buff on the flanks and lower belly. Like other wheatears, it has a distinctive tail pattern with a black feathers on the base and centre of the tail forming an inverted T against the otherwise white rump. The juvenile has a brown cap and cheeks, and the breast band is weak and diffuse.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Capped Wheatear
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is September, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Capped Wheatear
The map shades 13 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Uganda.
About the Capped Wheatear
The capped wheatear is a small insectivorous passerine bird that is widely distributed over southern Africa. It was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now placed in the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Desert WheatearOenanthe desertiThe head and nape of the adult male desert wheatear are a pale sandy-grey colour with the feathers tipped grey.
Brown Rock ChatOenanthe fuscaThe brown rock chat is about 17 cm long, larger than the somewhat similar-looking Indian robin.
Western Black-eared WheatearOenanthe hispanicaThe breeding male has the forehead and crown white or nearly white, the mantle buff, and the wings blacker than those of the northern wheatear.
Side by side: Capped Wheatear vs Western Black-eared Wheatear · Brown Rock Chat vs Capped Wheatear · Capped Wheatear vs Desert Wheatear
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