Buff-breasted Wheatear
Oenanthe bottae
A chunky, pale, brownish wheatear of mountain habitats in southwestern Arabia. Note the white eyebrow, black eye stripe, clean white throat, and buff breast. The tail is mostly black with a white base and rump, forming a thick “T” pattern that is conspicuous in flight. Found in open habitats at high elevations. The song is a long, complex mix of many different components, both scratchy and musical, sometimes given in a flight display. Similar overall to several other species of wheatears, but no other species shows a combination of large size, long legs, black-and-white pattern on the face, and buff breast.
Identification
Resembles the larger and darker northern wheatear, but with a duller reddish breast and broader black tail tip. The sexes are alike.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Oenanthe bottae
- Authority
- (Bonaparte, 1854)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Oenanthe
Range and habitat
It is found in south-west Saudi Arabia . Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. It is most common at altitudes over 1800 m.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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