Flycatchers and chats · Perching birds
Northern Wheatear
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Oenanthe oenanthe
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Voice
Song
Song
Song
How to recognize it
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14.5–15.5 cm long
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Spring and summer male with grey back, black eye mask and ochre breast; female less contrasting, with brown wings
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In flight, white rump and white tail with a black inverted T at the tip
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Whistling call, a high "heet"; often chirping and grating sounds
About the species
In spring, the male has a grey back, warm buff throat and black wings, with a dark mask running through the eyes. The female is browner above and paler below, with softer markings. Both show a white rump and tail, the tail ending in a black inverted T that is clear in flight.
The male’s song is a clear whistle with crackly notes, while its short call sounds like "chack." During breeding, he sings from a perch or makes a song-flight; the female builds the nest in a sheltered cavity.
It breeds in open, stony country across Europe, Asia and parts of North America, nesting in rock crevices, gaps between stones or rabbit burrows. It feeds mainly on insects, along with spiders, snails and earthworms, and takes berries in autumn. It migrates to Africa for winter, returning north to breed.
Did you know?
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Longest sea-crossing of any songbird
Northern Wheatears breeding in Greenland and northeast Canada cross 2,500–4,000 km of Atlantic to reach Africa — probably the longest sea-crossing of any passerine.
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70% gone from Britain since 1967
Between 1967 and 2005 the Northern Wheatear collapsed by 70% or more across the British Isles, one of the steepest declines of any British breeding bird.
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Even under railway sleepers
The Northern Wheatear isn't picky about a nest site: it tucks one into piles of stones, rock crevices, abandoned rodent burrows, and even under railway sleepers.
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Where to find
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During the breeding season on open, rocky slopes, look for the Northern Wheatear near crevices used for nesting.
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By a rocky nest crevice, listen for the male singing from a nearby perch or making a song-flight.
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In the breeding season, watch wall or pipe cavities for nesting activity — these can also hold nests.
