Finsch's Wheatear
Oenanthe finschii
A medium-sized elegant wheatear with long wings and long legs. Strong sexual dimorphism: male is black and white with a bright white hood and back, while female is gray-brown with gray upperparts and an increasing amount of dark feathering on throat as they mature. In all plumages note the narrow, evenly-broad black terminal tail band. Breeds on high, barren, rocky mountain slopes. In winter, often descends to plains, steppes, and even semi-desert. Song is a mix of harsh scratches and musical whistles; often given from a prominent perch.
Identification
Finsch's wheatear (Oenanthe finschii) is a wheatear, a small insectivorous passerine that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family, Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher of the family Muscicapidae.
Taxonomy
Genus: Oenanthe; Family: Muscicapidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Oenanthe finschii
- Authority
- (Heuglin, 1869)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Oenanthe
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilus
Looks very much like a chiffchaff, and best identified by voice: song is pleasant, slightly descending warble, very different from song of chiffchaff. Compared to chiffchaff, Willow Warbler is often brighter, more yellowish (especially in autumn) with stronger pale eyebrow, pinkish legs, and tends not to habitually dip its tail. However, many birds seen are best left unidentified. Found in wooded habitats, from mixed forest to willow thickets in open country.
Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant
Muscisaxicola maculirostris
Fairly small and drab terrestrial flycatcher of open rocky and stony slopes and valleys, and adjacent agricultural terraces in the Andes; also locally in desert lowlands mainly in winter. Virtual absence of field marks is a field mark: plumage unrelieved by strong contrast or color. Best told from other ground-tyrants by small size, faint dusky breast streaking, relatively short wings, and much stronger song. Also note yellow base of bill that is visible at close range.
Long-tailed Rosefinch
Carpodacus sibiricus
Large, plump finch of the boreal forest. Adult males are pink overall with two white wingbars and pale gray highlights. Immature males and females are not so bright but still subtly pretty; gray body with olive, yellow, or burnt-orange head and rump. Stubby bill with rounded edges. Song consists of rich, mellow warbles; listen for musical flight calls. Breeds in open coniferous forests. Winters in a variety of wooded habitats, especially around fruiting trees including crabapple and mountain ash. Often extremely tame, allowing close approach.
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