Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Locally common Summer visitors from March-October with 540,000 breeding pairs in Britain.

Also breeds on heathland in mainland Europe, North West Africa, Canada & Alaska. 

Winters in Africa.

Both sexes have a white rump and tail, with a black inverted T-pattern at the end of the tail.

The plumage of the summer male has grey upperparts, buff throat and black wings and face mask.

In autumn it resembles the Female apart from the black wings.

The Female is pale brown above and buff below with darker brown wings.

The Male has a whistling, crackly song.

Its call is a typical chat chack noise, and the flight call is the same.