Western Black-eared Wheatear

Oenanthe hispanica

Introduction

Western Black-eared Wheatear breeds in Iberia, southern France and northern parts of Italy, and winters in central and west Africa, south of the Sahara.

Split from Eastern Black-eared Wheatear in 2019, following the publication of a study published the previous year, this is a rare vagrant to Britain and even rare one to Ireland.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Seasonality

BTO Records

50 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Yorkshire, 1892

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Western Black-eared Wheatear movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Western Black-eared Wheatear, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Western Black-eared Wheatear

Classification and Codes

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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Scientific name: Oenanthe hispanica
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

BTO 5-letter code: WBEWH
Euring code number: 11481

Alternate species names

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Czech: bělořit okrový
Danish: Vestlig Middelhavsstenpikker
Dutch: Westelijke Blonde Tapuit
French: Traquet oreillard

German: Maurensteinschmätzer
Icelandic: Jörfadepill
Italian: Monachella occidentale
Norwegian: middelhavssteinskvett

Polish: białorzytka rdzawa
Portuguese: Chasco-ruivo-ocidental
Slovak: skaliarik okrový
Slovenian: Zahodni sredozemski kupčar
Swedish: västlig medelhavsstenskvätta

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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