Finsch's Wheatear vs Variable Wheatear

Finsch's Wheatear

Oenanthe finschii

Small27 gRocky

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

Variable Wheatear

Oenanthe picata

Small22 gDesert

The variable wheatear is a bird of arid and semi-arid region, and is locally abundant in barren rocky areas, sand dunes with scrub vegetation, cultivation, ravines, outside villages and nomadic encampments. It is polymorphic and has three distinct morphs. Black-bellied phase (opistholeuca). Male (adult). Entirely jet black except rump, under tail-coverts, base and sides of tail which are white; central rectrices and terminal band of tail black. Female has black parts replaced by sooty black. White-bellied phase (picata) Male (adult). Like the preceding but belly white.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Parth Kansara · CC BY 4.0

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