Oenanthe oenanthe: the northern wheatear

from: November 18, 2004



The Northern Wheatear is fairly easy to identify with its thin bill, active habits and diagnostic rump and tail pattern.

identification tips:
- Length: 5.5 inches
- Thin bill
- White supercilium
- Dark legs
- White rump and base of tail
- Tip of tail black
- Wings black
- Forages actively on the ground in open habitats
- North American range restricted to parts of Alaska and Yukon - casual stray to rest of Canada

adult male:
- Black mask
- Variably buffy underparts
- Gray upperparts

female and immature:
- Plumage similar to adult male but duller, browner and lacks black mask.