19

Red-tailed Wheatear

(Oenanthe xanthoprymna)
Size: 15 cm

Sightings

Usually a single, sometimes two, Red-tailed Wheatears were first spotted by us on the campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, in December 2009. They are winter residents in a semi-arid, rock-strewn area with sparse acacia growth. They are hard to approach in open country and will move to a different perch before one gets close.

Photos

Race chrysopygia

Lateral view of a (probably male) Red-tailed Wheatear, race chrysopygia

(Probably male) Red-tailed Wheatear from behind

Lateral view of a (probably female) Red-tailed Wheatear, race chrysopygia

Same bird as above, slightly different posture

Here one can see the characteristic orangey-rufous undertail typical of race chrysopygia

This photo shows the inconspicuous grey front of the same bird as above

Habits

Red-tailed Wheatears can sit on perches for long times (we have seen them immobile for up to 20 minutes), scanning their surroundings to then occasionally take an insect and return to the perch. But when the area is considered safe, they also spend considerable amounts of time foraging on the ground.

Food

Like all other wheatears, Red-tailed Wheatears are flycatchers. Most wheatears hunt for insects from low to mid-level perches.

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.