Bird Guide

Isabelline Wheatear vs Northern Wheatear

Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina)

Isabelline Wheatear

Oenanthe isabellina

Small29 gShrubland

Male and female isabelline wheatear are similar in appearance. The upper-parts are a pale sandy brown with an isabelline tinge (isabelline is a pale grey-yellow, fawn, cream-brown or parchment colour). The lower back is isabelline and the rump and upper tail-coverts are white. The tail feathers are brownish-black with a narrow edge and tip of buff and a large white base. In the outer tail feathers this occupies more than half the length of the feather but in the central feathers it is about one third. There is an over-eye streak of creamy white and the ear-coverts are pale brown.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Small25 gGrassland

The northern wheatear is larger than the European robin at 14.5–16 cm (5.7–6.3 in) in length. The northern wheatear also has a wingspan of 26–32 cm and weighs 17–30 g. Both sexes have a white rump and tail, with a black inverted T-pattern at the end of the tail. The plumage of the summer male has grey upperparts, buff throat and black wings and face mask. In autumn it resembles the female apart from the black wings. The female is pale brown above and buff below with darker brown wings. The male has a whistling, crackly song.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Northern Wheatear
Recorded by Hugo Leclerc · Song · Arrondissement de Brest (near Ouessant), Finistère, Bretagne, France · CC BY 4.0
Photo: Alexis Lours · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Isabelline Wheatear and Northern Wheatear.