Passeriformes / Muscicapidae / Oenanthe
Pied Wheatear
Oenanthe pleschanka · 白顶䳭
Introduction
A small insectivorous passerine in the family Muscicapidae, formerly classified in Turdidae. This migratory species breeds from southeastern Europe across Central Asia to China and winters in India and northeastern Africa. It inhabits open, stony, sparsely vegetated regions and is characterized by a bold white-and-black plumage in males and an inverted black 'T' tail pattern.
Description
Length is 14–14.6 cm (5.5–5.75 in). The adult male has a pale brown crown, nape, and neck with white bases; black mantle and scapulars with buff tips; and creamy-white back, rump, and upper tail-coverts. The face, throat, and upper breast are black, separated from the crown by a narrow buff line. Tail feathers show an inverted black 'T' pattern: central pair black with white bases, others white with black tips. Wings are black with creamy-buff edgings. Beak, legs, and feet are black. The female is similar but browner, with brown mantle, scapulars, and wings, and less white on the rump. Juveniles resemble females but have speckled upperparts due to pale feather centers.
Identification
Males are boldly marked white and black with a white crown tinged brown, contrasting with a black face and throat. The tail displays a characteristic inverted black 'T' pattern. Females are darker than northern wheatear females, appear smaller, and show less white on the rump. Voice includes a harsh 'zack zack' call. The song is low-pitched, musical, and imitative, performed from perches or in flight.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds from Romania and Bulgaria east to Siberia, Altai, Mongolia, and south to the Caucasus, Iran, and Afghanistan. Occurs at altitudes up to 2,000 m in the Altai and 3,000 m in the Tien Shan. Migrates through Southwest Asia to winter in northeastern Africa and India. Habitat includes rough open country, steppes, stony slopes, and hilly terrain. Rare vagrant to western Europe, including Italy, Heligoland, and Scotland.
Behavior & Ecology
Shy but conspicuous, occurring singly or in pairs in rocky countryside. Perches on bushes or rocks, bobbing its tail. Forages by swooping to the ground to catch prey. Diet consists of ants, grasshoppers, beetles, flies, moths, larvae, spiders, mites, and seeds. Nests in holes, under stones, or in rock crevices using dried grass stems lined with roots and feathers. Lays 4–6 greenish-blue eggs with rust-colored spots from early May; usually one brood.
Conservation
Rated as 'Least Concern' by BirdLife International. The population is believed to be stable with no particular threats. Estimated European population is 96,000–420,000 individuals, with a global estimate of 400,000–8,400,000 individuals.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Oenanthe
Distribution
breeds stony south-central Eurasia; winters to Arabia, Iran, and northeastern Africa
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
