Species Profile
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe
Wheatear
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernAlso known as: Northern Wheatear
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Appearance
The Wheatear is a small, striking bird with a distinctive white rump and tail with a black T-shaped marking. Males in breeding plumage have blue-grey upperparts, black wings, and a black bandit-style mask, contrasting with pale orange to buff-white underparts and white foreheads.
Females are more subdued, with brown-buff plumage. In autumn, both sexes become duller, with males resembling females, although the males’ wings remain black rather than dark brown. Juveniles have scaly plumage, appearing spotted brown above and buff below.
Identification & Characteristics
Male Colors
- Primary
- Grey
- Secondary
- Buff
- Beak
- Black
- Legs
- Black
Female Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- Grey
- Beak
- Black
- Legs
- Black
Female Markings
Less contrasting plumage than males, with brown upperparts and buff underparts
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
Wheatears inhabit open, rocky areas, including tundra, grasslands, and coastal regions. They breed across northern Europe, Asia, and North America, including Alaska and northern Canada.
During migration, they can be found in a variety of open habitats. Wintering grounds span Africa, southern Asia, and northeastern Africa. In the UK, they are summer visitors and passage migrants.
The highest concentrations of wheatears in the UK are found on open uplands throughout much of Scotland and Wales and also in northern, western and south-western England.
Distribution
Where to See This Bird
Explore regional guides for locations where this bird has been recorded.
United Kingdom
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Cheshire
Cornwall
Cumbria
Derbyshire
Devon
Dorset
Gloucestershire
East Riding of Yorkshire
Essex
East Sussex
Hampshire
Isle of Wight
Kent
Merseyside
Lincolnshire
London
Manchester
Northumberland
Norfolk
North Yorkshire
Tyne and Wear
Suffolk
Somerset
Stockton-on-Tees
West Yorkshire
West Sussex
Diet
Wheatears primarily feed on insects, including beetles, flies, grasshoppers, spiders, and caterpillars. They forage on the ground, often running and pausing, a 'hop and peck' tactic, to scan for prey. Occasionally, they'll also eat snails.
During migration and autumn, berries are also eaten, especially those growing on low shrubbery, including blackberries, crowberries and bilberries. Rowan, juniper and elderberry are also taken, as well as a variety of seeds.
Behaviour
Wheatears are active, ground-dwelling birds often seen perched on rocks or low vegetation. They frequently bob and flick their tails, especially when alarmed.
These birds are typically solitary or found in pairs during the breeding season, becoming more gregarious during migration.
Calls & Sounds
The Wheatear's song is a varied, scratchy warble interspersed with mimicry of other birds. Their most common call is a sharp, stony 'chack' or 'check'. During courtship, males produce a softer 'weet-chack-chack' sound.
Male wheatears have a number of distinct songs and subsongs that vary according to purpose and situation, including a territorial song, a conversational song and a perched song.
Nesting & Breeding
Wheatears form monogamous pairs each breeding season, typically from May to July. Males perform aerial displays and sing to attract mates.
Nests are built in rock crevices, burrows, or under stones, lined with grass, moss, and hair. Females lay 4-7 pale blue eggs, sometimes with red-brown speckling.
Incubation lasts 13-14 days, solely by the female, although males remain nearby. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after 14-16 days but remain dependent on adults for another two weeks.
Conservation
While globally listed as Least Concern, Wheatear populations are declining in parts of Europe due to habitat loss and agricultural intensification.
Climate change may affect their Arctic breeding grounds. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable breeding and stopover habitats.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for their distinctive white rump in flight
- Watch for their characteristic tail-bobbing behaviour
- Search open, rocky areas or short-grass habitats
- Listen for their sharp 'chack' call
- In the UK, observe coastal areas during spring and autumn migrations
Did You Know?
- Wheatears undertake one of the longest migrations for their size, with some traveling up to 30,000 km (18,640 miles) round trip.
- Their name comes from Old English for 'white' (wheat) and 'arse' (ear), referring to their white rump.
- They can return to the exact same nesting site year after year, despite their long-distance migration.
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