Isabelline Wheatear
The Isabelline Wheatear is a wheatear, a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae but it is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher in the family Muscicapidae. In colouring it resembles a female Northern Wheatear but it is larger at 5.9 to 6.5 inches in length, more upright and more tawny in colour and has more black on its tail.
The male and female Isabelline Wheatear are similar in appearance. The upper-parts are a pale sandy brown with an isabelline tinge (isabelline is a pale grey-yellow, fawn, cream-brown or parchment colour). The lower back is isabelline and the rump and upper tail coverts are white. The tail feathers are brownish-black with a narrow edge and tip of buff and a large white base. In the outer tail feathers this occupies more than half the length of the feather but in the central feathers it is about one third. There is an over-eye streak of creamy white and the ear coverts are pale brown. The chin is pale cream and the throat pale buff. The breast is sandy or isabelline buff and the belly creamy white. The under tail coverts are pale buff and the under wing coverts and axilliaries white with dark bases. The wing feathers are brownish-black, tipped and edged with creamy buff. The beak, legs and feet are black and the irises are brown.
The Isabelline Wheatear is a migratory species with an eastern breeding range extending from south Russia, the Caspian region, the Kyzyl Kum Desert and Mongolia to Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan and Israel. It winters in Africa and north west India. In Europe, it can be found in east Bulgaria and north east Greece. In its breeding range, the Isabelline Wheatear is found in open country, barren tracts of land, arid regions, steppes, high plateaux and on the lower slopes of hills. In its wintering range, it can be found in similar habitats in semi-arid regions, open country with sparse scrub and the borders of cultivated areas, showing a particular liking for sandy ground.
The Isabelline Wheatear is an active and restless bird, moving across the ground with long hops, flitting into the air and perching on small bushes. Its posture is rather upright and it is constantly bobbing about and flaring, raising and lowering its tail. It sometimes flutters into the air to catch insect prey but mostly forages along the ground, probing the soil with its beak. Its diet includes ants, grasshoppers, moths, flies, mites, spiders and insect larvae and it sometimes eats seeds as well.
The Isabelline Wheatear is a solitary bird in its winter range and may associate with other wheatear species during migration. On arrival at the breeding grounds, territories are established. The male displays to the female by drooping and then spreading his wings while singing, leaping a short distance in the air or flying up 50 feet or so, hovering and performing stunts, singing all the while, before landing again beside the female. The nest is usually underground, normally in the empty burrow of a Pika, Ground Squirrel or Mole Rat or they may excavate a fresh burrow. The nest is bulky and is composed of dried grasses. The female lays 4 to 6 eggs and both parents feed the chicks with small caterpillars and other insects. After they leave the nest, the chicks continue to be fed for about 2 weeks but after this the parents drive them out of the territory. There are probably 2 broods in the southern parts of the range.
The Isabelline Wheatear has an extensive range and a large population. The population seems to be stable and the IUCN in their Red List has evaluated it as being of "Least Concern".
Date: 18th May 2018
Location: Nos Kaliakra, Dobrich Province, Bulgaria
The male and female Isabelline Wheatear are similar in appearance. The upper-parts are a pale sandy brown with an isabelline tinge (isabelline is a pale grey-yellow, fawn, cream-brown or parchment colour). The lower back is isabelline and the rump and upper tail coverts are white. The tail feathers are brownish-black with a narrow edge and tip of buff and a large white base. In the outer tail feathers this occupies more than half the length of the feather but in the central feathers it is about one third. There is an over-eye streak of creamy white and the ear coverts are pale brown. The chin is pale cream and the throat pale buff. The breast is sandy or isabelline buff and the belly creamy white. The under tail coverts are pale buff and the under wing coverts and axilliaries white with dark bases. The wing feathers are brownish-black, tipped and edged with creamy buff. The beak, legs and feet are black and the irises are brown.
The Isabelline Wheatear is a migratory species with an eastern breeding range extending from south Russia, the Caspian region, the Kyzyl Kum Desert and Mongolia to Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan and Israel. It winters in Africa and north west India. In Europe, it can be found in east Bulgaria and north east Greece. In its breeding range, the Isabelline Wheatear is found in open country, barren tracts of land, arid regions, steppes, high plateaux and on the lower slopes of hills. In its wintering range, it can be found in similar habitats in semi-arid regions, open country with sparse scrub and the borders of cultivated areas, showing a particular liking for sandy ground.
The Isabelline Wheatear is an active and restless bird, moving across the ground with long hops, flitting into the air and perching on small bushes. Its posture is rather upright and it is constantly bobbing about and flaring, raising and lowering its tail. It sometimes flutters into the air to catch insect prey but mostly forages along the ground, probing the soil with its beak. Its diet includes ants, grasshoppers, moths, flies, mites, spiders and insect larvae and it sometimes eats seeds as well.
The Isabelline Wheatear is a solitary bird in its winter range and may associate with other wheatear species during migration. On arrival at the breeding grounds, territories are established. The male displays to the female by drooping and then spreading his wings while singing, leaping a short distance in the air or flying up 50 feet or so, hovering and performing stunts, singing all the while, before landing again beside the female. The nest is usually underground, normally in the empty burrow of a Pika, Ground Squirrel or Mole Rat or they may excavate a fresh burrow. The nest is bulky and is composed of dried grasses. The female lays 4 to 6 eggs and both parents feed the chicks with small caterpillars and other insects. After they leave the nest, the chicks continue to be fed for about 2 weeks but after this the parents drive them out of the territory. There are probably 2 broods in the southern parts of the range.
The Isabelline Wheatear has an extensive range and a large population. The population seems to be stable and the IUCN in their Red List has evaluated it as being of "Least Concern".
Date: 18th May 2018
Location: Nos Kaliakra, Dobrich Province, Bulgaria
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Also in: Bulgaria
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