Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti) | Species | ||||||||
 Male. Taken at Cley, Norfolk on October 19th 2026. (© David Hastings) (Canon R7+RF100-500mm, 1/1250th sec, f/7.1, ISO1000, 500mm) DescriptionL: 14.5 - 15.5cm A rather compact bird with a comparatively big head, short neck and tail. The tail is almost entirely black. The male has a black throat. It is mainly found in North Africa and the Middle East. An occasional vagrant to the British Isles. Breeding habitat is dry, sandy steppe-like heath, or semi-desert with scattered bushes, low vegetation and rocks. The Desert Wheatear tends to perch on a bush, tussock or grass or other eminence and dart to the ground beneath to pounce on insects and other small invertebrates, though it can also catch insects in the air. Least concern. Sightings
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