Eastern Black-eared Wheatear

Overview

The eastern black-eared wheatear (Oenanthe melanoleuca) is a small migratory passerine bird classified as an Old World flycatcher in the family Muscicapidae. It was formerly considered a member of the thrush family and is sometimes still regarded as conspecific with the western black-eared wheatear by certain authorities.

Identification

• Breeding males feature white or buff-tinged foreheads, crowns, and mantles, with wings that are blacker than those of the northern wheatear.
• A distinctive black mask extends from the ear coverts to the bill, while the throat may appear either black or white.
• Females are greyer and browner than males but retain the characteristic white lower back.
• The eastern species presents a more distinctly black-and-white appearance than its western counterpart due to less buff-tinted upperparts.

Habitat

This species breeds in the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Europe, around the Caspian Sea, and in Iran, migrating to winter quarters in Sudan. It prefers open habitats featuring scattered trees, such as savannas, rocky slopes, and barren pastures.