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19

White-crowned Wheatear (Oenanthe leucopyga) Alternate name(s): "White-crowned Black Wheatear" Size: 17-18 cm

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Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description White-crowned Wheatears are large wheatears, which are roughly robin-sized birds. As opposed to many other wheatears, the two sexes of this species look alike. Except for the white cap of adult birds, which gives the species its name, and a white vent and undertail, their plumage is all black. Also the irises are black, while the slightly down-curved, pointy bill and the legs and feet are dark-grey. Juvenile White-crowned Wheatears do not have a white crown yet, but are, except for the white vent/undertail, all-black.

Taxonomy, classification See White-crowned Wheatear at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the White-crowned Wheatear is available HERE . White-crowned Wheatears are true birds of the desert. Their range extends across the Sahara desert and the Arabian desert, from Mauretania and Western Sahara, via the South side of the Atlas mountain range eastward, including desert areas in inland Algeria, towards Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. Their range continues throughout Arabia, to Iraq/Kuwait in the East. Astonishingly, there are reports of some vagrant White-crowned Wheatears appearing on the English and Dutch/German North Sea coast and also in Poland. In Arabia White-crowned Wheatears are present mostly in the northern half of the peninsula, both in near-coastal and in inland areas across Saudi Arabia. In Oman they are found primarily around the northern border region with the UAE, in Musandam. White-crowned Wheatears have a strong preference for stony desert.

Sightings Click here for sighting information We have not seen an White-crowned Wheatear in Oman yet. The photos shown below were taken in Egypt. All photographic information presented on this page has kindly been contributed by M. Eaton.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Dorsal view of an adult White-crowned Wheatear - note the characteristic white cap (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile White-crowned Wheatear; note the still black cap showing a first white speck
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile White-crowned Wheatear; note the still black cap showing a first white speck
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]

Lateral view of a juvenile White-crowned Wheatear (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile White-crowned Wheatear on its elevated perch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]