The wheatear is a small mainly ground-dwelling bird. It hops or runs on the ground. It is blue-grey above with black wings and white below with an orange flush to the breast. It has a black cheek. In flight it shows a white rump and a black 'T' shape on its tail. It is a summer visitor and passage migrant. Birds breed mainly in western and northern Britain and western Ireland, although smaller numbers do breed in southern and eastern England. It winters in central Africa.
Key ID Features:
Adult male has grey upperparts from crown to back leading to dark wings, and a white stripe above a bold black eye-patch.
The female is generally paler with browner wings and a less distinct eye-patch.
Buff underparts fade to white above black legs.
In flight both sexes show a bold black 'T' shape at the tip of a clean white rump and tail.
Often seen hopping on open ground when feeding, stopping intermittently in an upright pose, sometimes on a rock, post or other vantage point.
Overview
Scientific name: Oenanthe oenanthe
Family: Chats and thrushes (Turdidae)
Where to see them:
In the breeding season, best looked for on upland suitable habitat in northern and western Britain. May be seen on passage at coastal migration watchpoints and inland.
Seen in UK:
March to October.
What they eat
Insects and larvae.
Text (c) RSPB, used with permission
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Location: Thurlestone Bay, Devon
Photographer: Tim Tapley
