Pied Wheatear
\nThe
Pied Wheatear,
Oenanthe pleschanka, is a
wheatear, a small insectivorous
passerine that was formerly classed as a member of the
Thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an
Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae.
This
migratory central Asiatic wheatear occurs from the extreme southcast of Europe to
China, and has been found wintering in
India and northeastern
Africa. It is a very rare vagrant to western
Europe.
In summer the male is a white and black bird. The white crown tinged with grey contrasts with the black face and throat. The female is browner, and the head is washed with sandy buff. Females are darker than
Northern Wheatear, look smaller and showed less white on the rump.
Length 5.7 inches. Wing, 3.6 inches