Red-tailed Wheatear

The Red-tailed Wheatear, also known as the Rusty-tailed Wheatear, Persian Wheatear, or Afghan Wheatear, is a diminutive avian species, with a length of 14.5 cm, a wingspan of 26–27 cm, and a weight ranging from 20 to 27 grams. Its plumage is rather subdued, with grey-brown tones adorning the upper parts and a greyish-white underbelly. A pale stripe graces the area above the eye, while the ear-coverts bear a rufous hue, and the underwing-coverts shimmer with a silvery-white sheen. The rump and the bases of the outer tail-feathers exhibit a reddish coloration, contrasting with the black remainder of the tail, which forms a distinctive T-shaped pattern.

Identification Tips

Males and females of this species are similar in appearance, though males can be distinguished by a patch of black plumage between the eye and bill. When identifying the Red-tailed Wheatear, look for the faint pale stripe over the eye, the rufous ear-coverts, and the characteristic reddish rump and tail base.

Habitat

The Red-tailed Wheatear favors mountainous terrains for breeding, selecting steep, barren, and rocky landscapes with sparse vegetation. In winter, it descends to lower elevations, where it can be found on rocky hills, steppe, scrubland, and semi-desert environments.

Distribution

This species' breeding range stretches from north-east Turkey, across Armenia and Azerbaijan, through Iran, and extends to Afghanistan, southern Tajikistan, and western Pakistan. During the winter months, it migrates to the Arabian Peninsula, Eritrea, southern Iraq and Iran, Pakistan, and north-west India. It has also been recorded as a vagrant in Israel, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Nepal.

Behaviour

The Red-tailed Wheatear is typically observed foraging on bare ground, where it primarily consumes insects such as ants, beetles, and caterpillars. It employs various foraging techniques, including picking food from vegetation, digging with its bill for beetle larvae, and launching aerial attacks from an exposed perch.

Song & Calls

The song of the Red-tailed Wheatear is a simple, repeated whistle. Additionally, it communicates with a repertoire of clicking, rasping, and whistling calls.

Breeding

Breeding season for this species commences in late March or April and continues until June, with the potential for two broods. The nest, a cup constructed from grass and other plant materials, is strategically placed in a crevice among rocks, stones, or within a wall. The female lays a clutch of four to six pale bluish-white eggs, occasionally marked with reddish-brown spots, which are then incubated for a period of 13 days.

Similar Species

The female Kurdistan Wheatear bears a resemblance to the Red-tailed Wheatear but typically has white bases to the outer tail-feathers. The adult male and some female Kurdistan Wheatears are quite distinct, with a black face and throat and greyer upperparts.

Diet and Feeding

The Red-tailed Wheatear's diet consists mainly of insects, which it forages from the ground or vegetation. It is known to dig for beetle larvae and to launch attacks from perches to capture its prey.

Conservation Status

The Red-tailed Wheatear is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it does not face any immediate threat of extinction.