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DesertCavity nestSmall · 22 g
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Variable Wheatear
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 6 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is December, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Variable Wheatear
The map shades 12 countries with regular records, and 1 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 Kuwait.
About the Variable Wheatear
The variable wheatear is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
White-crowned WheatearOenanthe leucopygaThis large 17–18 cm long wheatear breeds in stony deserts from the Sahara and Arabia across to Iraq.
Mourning WheatearOenanthe lugensThe mourning wheatear measures 14–16 cm (5.5–6.3 in) in length and weighs between 19–25 g (0.67–0.88 oz).
Finsch's WheatearOenanthe finschiiA medium-sized elegant wheatear with long wings and long legs.
Side by side: Variable Wheatear vs White-crowned Wheatear · Mourning Wheatear vs Variable Wheatear · Finsch's Wheatear vs Variable Wheatear
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