Learn what every symbol on the card means.Full credits and sources at beakbrain.com/symbols
GrasslandCavity nestSmall · 25 g
What the Northern Wheatear sounds like
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Northern Wheatear
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Northern Wheatear
The map shades 121 countries with regular records, and 6 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 India, Taiwan, South Africa, South Korea, Mexico, Mayotte.
About the Northern Wheatear
The northern wheatear or wheatear is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It is the most widespread member of the wheatear genus Oenanthe in Europe and North and Central Asia. The northern wheatear is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in open stony country in Europe and east across the Palearctic with footholds in northeastern Canada and Greenland as well as in northwestern Canada and Alaska. It nests in rock crevices and rabbit burrows. All birds spend most of their winter in Africa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Familiar ChatOenanthe familiarisThe familiar chat is a dumpy short-tailed bird 14–15 cm (5.5–5.9 in) long.
Isabelline WheatearOenanthe isabellinaMale and female isabelline wheatear are similar in appearance.
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: Familiar Chat vs Northern Wheatear · Isabelline Wheatear vs Northern Wheatear · Northern Wheatear vs Western Black-eared Wheatear
Learn the Northern Wheatear in the BeakBrain App
Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Play today's Daily BirdEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.