Pied Wheatear - Oenanthe pleschanka - Bonte Tapuit / Zwin - Knokke - Belgium / November 4, 2025 скачать в хорошем качестве

Pied Wheatear - Oenanthe pleschanka - Bonte Tapuit / Zwin - Knokke - Belgium / November 4, 2025

The Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka) is a small migratory passerine of the family Muscicapidae, breeding mainly in southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and central Asia. It inhabits dry, open landscapes such as rocky slopes, steppe regions, and semi-deserts, often nesting in crevices, burrows, or under stones. The Pied Wheatear exhibits sexual dimorphism: breeding males are characterized by a contrasting black and white plumage, with a white crown, nape, and rump, and a black face, throat, and back. Females and non-breeding males are generally paler, with brownish upperparts and a less distinct contrast. After the breeding season, O. pleschanka migrates to wintering grounds in northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, where it occupies arid and semi-arid habitats. Migration typically occurs between August and October, with return movements in March and April.