Blackstart

Overview

The blackstart (Oenanthe melanura) is a chat found in desert regions across North Africa, the Middle East, and the Arabian Peninsula. It is a resident species throughout its range and is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• 14 cm long with a wingspan of 23–27 cm and a weight of around 15 g.
• Bluish-grey or grey-brown plumage (browner in North African races, bluer in Middle Eastern races) with a prominent black tail that is frequently fanned.
• Black rump, bill, and legs, with a greyish-white belly and under-wings.
• Song consists of a clear, melancholy whistle: CHURlee...TRUloo...CHURlee...TRUlur....

Habitat

Inhabits rocky deserts and mountain slopes. Its distribution includes the Sinai Peninsula, the Negev Desert, Arava Valley, and Dead Sea areas in Israel, western Jordan, and extending across parts of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa.

Diet

Feeds primarily on insects taken on the ground. Both parents participate in feeding the chicks after they fledge.

Did you know?

A study in Israel identified the predation of eggs by Golden and Cairo spiny mice as a major cause of nest failure for this species.