Birds of the World

Turdidae : Thrushes & Chats

Black-eared Wheatear

Oenanthe hispanica

male O. h. melanoleuca - Lesvos, Greece - May 2006

This southern European species has two distinct subspecies. The eastern race, melanoleuca, has more extensive black markings on the head and throat and is more 'black-and-white' than hispanica, lacking much of the orange tones exhibited by that race.

male O. h. melanoleuca - Lesvos, Greece - May 2006

Both races have black-throated and pale-throated forms in the males.

male O. h. hispanica - Extremadura, Spain - May 2005

male O. h. hispanica - Extremadura, Spain - May 2005

female O. h. melanoleuca - Lesvos, Greece - May 2006