Finsch's Wheatear

This 15-16 cm long bird breeds in semi-desert and stony hillsides from Turkey east to Afghanistan and western Pakistan. It is a short-distance migrant, wintering in Egypt and the Greater Middle East. It wanders to Cyprus with some frequency. The nest is built in a rock crevice, and 4-5 eggs is the normal clutch.

The Finsch's Wheatear is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Napi Valley - FINSCH'S WHEATEAR 1 reported at the north end of the valley. No further details. Note - only one accepted record and ALL those followed up in recent years have turned out to be black and white melanoleuca Black-eared Wheatears (now known to be a Black-eared Wheatear see here). LANNER FALCON 1. Kalloni Saltpans area - reports of a 'large' pratincole movement this morning c.0730h inc. reported Black-winged Pratincole. More

The Finsch's Wheatear, Oenanthe finschii , 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 15-16 cm long bird breeds in semi-desert and stony hillsides from Turkey east to Afghanistan and western Pakistan. It is a short-distance migrant, wintering in Egypt and the Greater Middle East. It wanders to Cyprus with some frequency. More

In summer the male Finsch's Wheatear is a white and black bird. The white crown, central back and belly contrast with the black face, throat and wings. The tail and rump are white, with an inverted black T giving a pattern like Black-eared Wheatear, but with a uniformly wide terminal band. The female is brown-grey above, becoming dirty white below. The tail pattern is similar to the male’s. Finsch's Wheatear feeds mainly on insects. More

For the purposes of our bird news services, Finsch's Wheatear is classed as Mega: species which have not yet occurred in the British Isles or are exceedingly rare, or are otherwise highly desirable. More

Here I found a male Finsch's Wheatear perched on overhead wires. The light was in the wrong direction but I did manage a few record photographs. On returning to the main road and again heading east, I tried to locate the next site described by Gosney. This was another water trough and apparently 21kM from Sogut. This was in very hilly/moutainous terrain. The water trough now has a "café" next door and was rather busy, so I did not stop. More

Male Finsch's Wheatear - Kuwait, for comparison - 1st winter male Black-eared Wheatear - Kuwait, 27. More

However, Finsch's Wheatear has no white band round the neck and the sides of the tail are more white . TFL and Have a nice day! Cheers, ©Bayram GÖÇMEN, All Rights Reserved. ***************************** The Black-eared Wheatear a small migratory passerine bird 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 13.5-15.5 cm (5. More