Mountain Wheatear

This non-migratory wheatear is resident in mountainous and rocky habitats in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and southernmost Angola.

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

The Mountain Wheatear or Mountain Chat, Oenanthe monticola, is a small insectivorous 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 non-migratory wheatear is resident in mountainous and rocky habitats in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and southernmost Angola. Mountain Wheatear is 18-20 cm long, and like other wheatears, it has a distinctive tail pattern, with a white rump and outer tail feathers. More

Distribution of Mountain wheatear in southern Africa, based on statistical smoothing of the records from first SA Bird Atlas Project (© Animal Demography unit, University of Cape Town; smoothing by Birgit Erni and Francesca Little). Colours range from dark blue (most common) through to yellow (least common). See here for the latest distribution from the SABAP2. Predators and parasites It has been recorded as prey of the Common fiscal (Lanius collaris). More

For the purposes of our bird news services, Mountain Wheatear is classed as Ungraded: species which are unlikely to appear as wild birds in Britain or Ireland hide section Most recent photos of Mountain Wheatear (1) Undisclosed, Namibia Undisclosed, Namibia03/11/2006 Undisclosed, Namibia 03/11/2006 View all pictures of Mountain Wheatear View all pictures of Mountain Wheatear show section External Links (0) We currently have no external links for this species. More

The Mountain Wheatear has different colour forms, from black and white, to grey. The grey phase birds are ashy grey with white outer tail feathers, and with a white patch on the shoulder. Black phase birds are mostly black, but may have a white or grey cap to the head, and usually have a white patch on the shoulder. They have white outer tail feathers. The female is plainer coloured, and is usually dark brown with white outer tail feathers. More

Rare form of Mountain Wheatear (Mountain Chat) - > Subject: Rare form of Mountain Wheatear (Mountain Chat) From: Gawie Date: Sat, Mar 27, 2010, 2:14 PM Hi there, Saw today a Mountain Chat in the Little Karoo which was white from its belly up to the chest, as mention in Newmans. According to Newmans,this form is only seen in Namibia. More

The Mountain Wheatear (Latin name Oenanthe monticola) is described in Roberts Birds of Southern Africa, 7th Edition. This bird has a unique Roberts number of 586 and you will find a full description of this bird on page 948 also a picture of the Mountain Wheatear on page 961. The Mountain Wheatear belongs to the family of birds classified as Muscicapidae. More

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