Oenanthe leucopyga - White-crowned Black Wheatear
Feather characters. Barbules are of medium length (1.1-1.27 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and unpigmented internodes. Occasionally some pigment may be found in parts of internodes, particularly distal internodes. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (38-40 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Minute prongs are present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 17 cm. Weight 27.9 g (25.0-39.0) (Dunning, 1993). Fairly large, almost the size of Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura, not included in BRIS). Adult glossy black with white crown, vent (reaching up between legs), and rump. Central tail feathers black, rest of tail white, lacking obvious terminal band (only with small black marks on tips of outer tail-feathers). Juvenile and first winter less glossy and with black crown; may have narrow terminal tail-band, so best separated from Black Wheatear by more extensive white on lower belly. Behaviour much like Black Wheatear.
Voice. Commonest call 'peeh-peeh' (not trisyllabic like Black Wheatear). Song combines whistling notes with gravelly elements and imitations.
Distribution. Common to very common resident in N Africa, less common in Middle East; some dispersal in winter. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Desolate rocky desert, ravines, or lava fields, bare or covered with scanty vegetation; also near human settlements. Nests in hole or rock crevice, or under boulder.
Food. Insects, but also seeds and small lizards.