Isabelline wheatear facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Isabelline wheatear |
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The isabelline wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina) is a small bird. It used to be grouped with thrushes. Now, scientists think it's part of the Old World flycatcher family. This bird is a migratory species. This means it flies long distances. It eats mostly insects.
It lives in open areas like steppes. It breeds in places like southern Russia and Central Asia. Its breeding range goes all the way to northern Pakistan. In winter, it flies to Africa and northwestern India. Sometimes, it's seen in western Europe, but that's very rare.
This wheatear looks a bit like a female northern wheatear. However, it is larger, about 15 to 16.5 centimeters (6 to 6.5 inches) long. It stands more upright and has a more brownish-yellow color. It also has more black on its tail. The word isabelline describes its pale, parchment-like color.
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What's in a Name?
The name "isabelline" comes from a Latin word. It means "greyish-yellow." Some people say it's named after a queen. This was Isabella I of Castile. She supposedly promised not to change her clothes. This was until Spain was free from the Moors.
The word "wheatear" might sound like "wheat ear." But it actually comes from old English words. It's a mix-up of "white" and "arse." This refers to the white patch. You can see this on the back of many wheatear birds. The scientific name Oenanthe is from Ancient Greek words. These mean "wine" and "flower." It refers to the northern wheatear's return to Greece. This happens in spring when grapevines blossom.
What Does It Look Like?
Both male and female isabelline wheatears look very similar. Their upper parts are a light sandy brown. They have that special isabelline color. This is a pale grey-yellow or cream-brown shade. Their lower back is also isabelline. The rump and upper tail feathers are white.
The tail feathers are brownish-black. They have a thin edge and tip of buff color. They also have a large white area at the base. On the outer tail feathers, this white part is more than half the length. On the middle feathers, it's about one-third. There's a creamy white stripe above their eyes. Their cheek feathers are light brown.
Their chin is pale cream. The throat is light buff. Their chest is sandy or isabelline buff. The belly is creamy white. The feathers under their tail are pale buff. The feathers under their wings are white. Their beak, legs, and feet are black. Their eyes are brown.
At about 16.5 centimeters (6.5 inches) long, it's bigger than the northern wheatear. It's also paler in color. Its beak is longer than the northern wheatear's. Its cheek feathers are lighter. Otherwise, they look quite alike. This means they can sometimes be confused. These birds change their feathers twice a year. They have a full change in late summer. A smaller change happens in mid-winter.
Sounds and Songs
The call of the isabelline wheatear is a "chirp." Sometimes, they make a loud whistle. Their song sounds a bit like a lark. It often starts with a croaking sound. Then, it has different whistles. They are also good at mimicry. This means they can copy the sounds of other birds.
Where Does It Live?
The isabelline wheatear is a bird that travels far. It breeds in eastern parts of Europe and Asia. This area stretches from Southern Russia. It includes the Caspian region and the Kyzyl Kum Desert. It goes all the way to Mongolia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East.
In winter, these birds fly to Africa and northwestern India. Sometimes, they visit Greece, Cyprus, Algeria, and Tunisia in summer.
During the breeding season, you can find them in open areas. They like barren lands, dry regions, and steppes. They also live on high plateaus and lower hill slopes. In winter, they prefer similar places. These are semi-dry areas with open land and scattered bushes. They especially like sandy ground.
Behavior and Life Cycle
The isabelline wheatear is a very active bird. It moves on the ground with long hops. It might flutter into the air. It often perches on high spots or small bushes. It stands quite upright. It constantly bobs its head and raises and lowers its tail.
Sometimes, it flies up to catch insects in the air. But mostly, it looks for food on the ground. It uses its beak to probe the soil. Its diet includes ants, grasshoppers, moths, and flies. It also eats mites, spiders, and insect larvae. Sometimes, it eats seeds too.
Reproduction
Isabelline wheatears are usually alone in winter. During migration, they might join other Oenanthe species. When they arrive at their breeding grounds, they set up their own areas. The male bird shows off to the female. He droops and spreads his wings while singing. He might leap into the air. Or he flies up about 15 meters (50 feet). He hovers and does tricks, singing all the time. Then he lands next to the female.
The nest is usually underground. They often use an empty burrow. This could be from a pika, ground squirrel, or mole rat. Sometimes, they dig a new burrow themselves. The nest is big and made of dried grasses.
They lay four to six pale blue eggs. These eggs are usually plain. But sometimes, they have a few reddish speckles. The eggs are about 22.16 x 16.6 millimeters in size. Both parents feed the young birds. They give them small caterpillars and other insects. After leaving the nest, the young are fed for about two weeks. Then, the parents make them leave the territory.
The breeding season starts in late March in Turkey. But in Central Asia, it doesn't begin until May. In the warmer southern areas, they probably have two sets of young each year.
How Many Are There?
The isabelline wheatear lives across a very large area. This area is about 11.7 million square kilometers (4.36 million square miles). There are also many of these birds. Scientists estimate there are between 26 million and 378 million individuals. The number of birds seems to be steady. Because of this, the IUCN has listed this species as "least concern". This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
