male	male female European distribution male on ground

Identification

It is said that the name Wheatear derives from the expression 'white arse', a perfect description of how this bird appears as it flies away. Indeed, it is the white rump contrasting with the inverted black 'T' in the tail which separates a Wheatear in any plumage from all other British birds. Males in spring are handsome birds with blue-grey backs and black eye masks. Females and first winter birds are brown above and usually lack the dark eye patch.

Habitat

Breeds in holes in the ground or in walls in areas of short turf such as moors, downs and cliff-tops.

Migration

A migratory bird which winters in a broad belt across sub-Saharan Africa.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Northern Wheatear is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Ballyvergan Marsh, Cork 01/09/2010	Bawdsey, Suffolk 30/08/2010	Bawdsey, Suffolk 30/08/2010	Salthouse, Norfolk 31/08/2010	Salthouse, Norfolk 31/08/2010
Sandwich Bay, Kent 30/08/2010	The Wig, Dumf & Gall 30/08/2010	undisc. site, Worcs 29/08/2010	Easter Earshaig, Dumf & Gall 31/08/2010	Pt of Ayre, IOM 30/08/2010

 View all pictures of Northern Wheatear

Northern Wheatear breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Greenland
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Svalbard
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob11460.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Northern Wheatear	Edit this link
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	BTO: Summer visitors are back	Thursday 13th May 2010
	BTO Director Andy Clements wraps up the A2B Calendar series, welcoming back our African migrants.   read on
	BTO: Chris Packham welcomes spring	Thursday 18th March 2010
	The BTO's Africa to Britain campaign celebrates the Northern Wheatear.   read on

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