About the Western Black-eared Wheatear
The western black-eared wheatear is a wheatear, a small migratory passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now considered to be an Old World flycatcher. It was formerly considered conspecific with the eastern black-eared wheatear.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The breeding male has the forehead and crown white or nearly white, the mantle buff, and the wings blacker than those of the northern wheatear. The underparts are white tinged with buff. The back, upper tail coverts and most of the tail are white. A black mask extends from the ear coverts to the bill. The throat can be either black or white. In autumn and winter the head and mantle are distinctly buff, as are the underparts (including the throat in non-black-throated individuals), but the buff varies in intensity.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Norway, Chad, Kenya, Mali, Czechia, Yemen.
When to see it
Peak activity in April · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Brown Rock ChatOenanthe fuscaThe brown rock chat is about 17 cm long, larger than the somewhat similar-looking Indian robin.
Desert WheatearOenanthe desertiThe head and nape of the adult male desert wheatear are a pale sandy-grey colour with the feathers tipped grey.
Capped WheatearOenanthe pileataThe capped wheatear is 17–18 cm long and weighs 32 g.
Learn the Western Black-eared Wheatear for real
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