Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe - moulting adult female. L 14-16cm. Open-country bird. Reveals white rump and black-and-white tail in flight. In other respects, sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has blue-grey crown and back, black mask and wings, and pale underparts flushed orange-buff on breast. Adult female has mainly grey-brown upperparts, darkest on wings. Face, throat and breast are pale orange-buff and underparts are otherwise whitish. 1st winter birds have grey- to buffish brown upperparts and buffish underparts. Voice Utters a sharp chak alarm call, like two pebbles knocked together. Song is fast and warbling. Status Locally common summer visitor to moors and open grassland.
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