Mourning Wheatear vs Red-tailed Wheatear

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

Red-tailed Wheatear

Oenanthe chrysopygia

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It is 14.5 cm long with a wingspan of 26–27 cm and a weight of about 20-27 g. The plumage is fairly drab, mainly grey-brown above and greyish-white below. It has a faint pale stripe over the eye, a rufous tinge to the ear-coverts and silvery-white underwing-coverts. The rump and bases of the outer tail-feathers are reddish while the rest of the tail is black forming a T-shaped pattern. There is little difference between males and females but the male has black between the eye and bill. The female Kurdistan wheatear can be very similar but usually has white bases to the outer tail-feathers.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Jean-Paul Boerekamps · CC0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Mourning Wheatear and Red-tailed Wheatear.