Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) Species Guide: Appearance, Diet, Habitat, Behavior, Stats, And Conservation Status

Species Guide: Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Family: Muscicapidae

Appearance

The Northern Wheatear is a small passerine bird. It is known for its distinctive upright stance and frequent tail-flicking behavior. The plumage of this bird varies by season and sex:

Breeding Males have a gray back, black wings, white underparts, and a striking black mask.

Females are generally browner overall, with more subtle markings. Outside of the breeding season they are both similar in appearance. Both sexes feature a characteristic white rump and a black tail with an inverted “T” pattern.

Diet

Primarily insectivorous, this species feeds on beetles, ants, flies, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and other invertebrates. Occasionally, it consumes berries and seeds, especially in autumn. It hunts mainly on the ground, making short flights to snatch its prey.

Habitat

Prefers open, treeless landscapes such as rocky uplands, tundra, heathland, coastal areas, pastures, and semi-deserts. The Northern Wheatear breeding range includes Europe, Asia, Greenland, and North America (eastern Canada and Alaska). During winter, it migrates to sub-Saharan Africa, typically found in dry savannas and scrublands.

Highly migratory¹, these small passerines undertake one of the longest migrations of any bird species, with some individuals traveling up to 15,000 km one way.

Alaskan Birds: Travel west across Siberia and the Middle East to reach East Africa. Greenland and Eastern Canadian Birds: Fly across the North Atlantic, via Iceland and Europe, to arrive in West Africa. European Populations: Pass through Spain, the Mediterranean, and the Sahara to migrate into West Africa. Asian Populations: Move through the Caucasus, Middle East, and Arabian Peninsula, eventually reaching East Africa.

Northern Wheatears can cover distances of 2,000 to 3,000 km non-stop over oceans or deserts, relying on their fat reserves for energy. The southward migration begins in late August to September, with arrival in Africa by October to November. The northward return migration starts in March to April.

Behavior

During the breeding season, male birds sing from elevated perches to defend their territories. Northern Wheatears build nests in various locations, including crevices, burrows, stone walls, or beneath rocks. Nests typically contain 4 to 7 eggs, and both parents are involved in feeding the young. On the ground, these birds are active and stand upright, often hopping and flicking their tails while foraging.

Biometrics²

Natural Predators

Eggs and chicks are preyed upon by stoats, weasels, snakes, corvids, and domestic cats. Adults are hunted by raptors, including falcons, hawks, and owls.

Conservation Status

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) is registered as Least Concern (LC) from a global viewpoint. The global population is in the tens of millions, with a very large breeding and wintering range. Although there are some localized declines attributed to habitat loss, agricultural intensification, and climate change, the overall trend for this species remains stable.

U.K.
Conservation Status

Global
Conservation Status

Related Articles

CITATIONS

1. European Breeding Bird Atlas: Northern Wheatear [Accessed 6/9/2025] ↩︎
2. BTO [Accessed 6/9/2025] ↩︎

References

1. Hughes, J.M. (2011) The migration of birds. Firefly Books. [Accessed 6/9/2025]