Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Hooded Wheatear (Oenanthe monacha), male
Hooded Wheatear, Male

Hooded Wheatear

Oenanthe monacha

The hooded wheatear, known scientifically as Oenanthe monacha, is a small, striking passerine bird. Once considered part of the thrush family Turdidae, it is now classified under the Old World flycatchers, Muscicapidae. This desert dweller measures between 15.5 to 17 centimeters in length.

Identification Tips

In the summer, the male hooded wheatear presents a dramatic contrast of white and black plumage. Its white crown and belly stand out against the black face, back, and throat. The tail and rump are predominantly white, with black central tail feathers adding to the bird's distinctive appearance. The female, on the other hand, is cloaked in brown with a paler underside. Her tail pattern echoes that of the male, though the background hue shifts to a buff color rather than white.

Habitat

The hooded wheatear is a bird of the desert, favoring environments devoid of vegetation. It is a resident breeder in such arid landscapes.

Distribution

This bird's range extends from eastern Egypt, across the Arabian Peninsula, and into Iran and Pakistan. It is a scarce breeder in the Hajar Mountains and was once found in the UAE and Oman. The hooded wheatear is also known to pass through Cyprus annually.

Behaviour

The hooded wheatear is an adept flyer, often catching insects mid-air. It is a bird well-adapted to the harsh conditions of its desert habitat.

Song & Calls

The call of the hooded wheatear is a simple, whistled "vit." Its song, in contrast, is a more complex and harsh chattering.

Breeding

Nests are constructed within rock crevices, providing shelter and protection. A typical clutch comprises 3 to 6 eggs.

Diet and Feeding

Insects form the staple of the hooded wheatear's diet, with many being snatched from the air in flight.

Conservation status

The hooded wheatear is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that, at present, there are no immediate threats to its population numbers on a global scale.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Hooded Wheatears on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Chats, Old World Flycatchers

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
Talli A
My favourite app
As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
Trevarthen1
Birda fan
I really enjoy using Birda, all sightings are recorded and photos can be added. There are monthly challenges which help to get you out to record your sightings. The Birda community are great and are happy to help with unidentified bird sightings. Suitable for all ages and experience!
D3Nature
Great app for learning Birds
I’ve been using the app for a couple of months and love it....Someone said it’s like a real life Pokémon Go for birds. They’re not far off! It’s something that the family can do that gets you out and about. Well worth downloading no matter your age.
Amylia S
Best app for any birding person!
I love this app!! I am so addicted to it when I saw it had 3 star review I was so sad! The app is awesome!! The best app for any birding person! ❤️
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.