Finsch's Wheatear vs Mourning Wheatear

Finsch's Wheatear

Oenanthe finschii

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A medium-sized elegant wheatear with long wings and long legs. It measures 14 cm (5.5 in) long, with 25–27 cm (9.8–10.6 in) wingspan, and weigh 21–32 g (0.74–1.13 oz). In summer the male Finsch's wheatear is a white and black bird. The white crown, central back, and belly contrast with the black face, throat, and wings. The tail and rump are white, with an inverted black T giving a pattern like eastern black-eared wheatear, but with a uniformly wide terminal band. The female is brown-grey above, becoming dirty white below. The tail pattern is similar to the male's.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Ani Sarkisyan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ani Sarkisyan · cc-by

Mourning Wheatear

Oenanthe lugens

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The mourning wheatear measures 14–16 cm (5.5–6.3 in) in length and weighs between 19–25 g (0.67–0.88 oz). It is characterised by its striking black-and-white plumage. Both males and females share a similar appearance, featuring a white crown, nape, chest, and belly that contrast with the black head and neck, which extend to the black back. The tail is predominantly white, marked by a black stripe at the tip and a central black intrusion forming an inverted "T" pattern, a characteristic feature of wheatears.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: PsJeremy from Melbourne, Australia · CC BY 2.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Finsch's Wheatear and Mourning Wheatear.