Brian J Small April 2003

The features by which Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellinus can be identified are already pretty well established, e.g. Corso (1997). With experience, they are actually relatively easy to identify, certainly when you are in the Middle East, but to the unwary and with vagrants, things may not seem so easy. There are a small number of Spring records in NW Europe, but maybe not as many as might be expected relative to the numbers of the sympatric Eastern Black-eared Wheatear O [hispanica]melanoleuca that are recorded at that time. It may well be that they are overlooked, and this Surfbirds photo-spot takes a look at them at this time of year.

On a recent trip to Cyprus in April 2003, wheatears were one of my main targets: Cyprus Pied O cypriaca, Eastern Black-eared, Northern O oenanthe, Finsch's O finschii and Isabelline. I was particularly keen to see the last two: Finsch's as it would be a new bird for me; Isabelline as I wanted to observe them closely, take some reasonable footage, and to examine the ease of noting certain features under 'field conditions'. The images here are simply designed to highlight those main features, underlining two that were very distinct.

Though there is some slight variability in colour, notably in the tone of the upperparts and the extent of the apricot wash from the ear coverts onto the breast and flanks, Isabelline Wheatear in Spring are nevertheless quite consistent in plumage. As has been discussed in several recent reviews of the identity of the species, the supercilium is prominent in front of the eye, but very weak behind (virtually lacking on most); the wings generally lack the contrastingly dark centres to the coverts and tertials, and on the closed wing seem quite brown; the primary tip is more-or-less equidistant between the tertial and tail tips. However, I found that the two main features were the very restricted area of white on the rump, contrasting with the more extensively black tail; and the white underwing, which is very obvious as, behaviourly they have a habit of flying to capture prey or to wing-flick as they move to pick prey of the ground. The following images show these characters, but are taken from digital video and so are not the best quality.

Note the very restricted area of white on the rump and uppertail coverts, and the tail that appears virtually all black. Even from above the primaries show as pale and silvery grey - dare I say it, a 'venetian blind' effect.		Taken whilst wing-flicking as it feeds. Note the obvious white underwing, even with the wings only half open, with the silvery white inner webs of the primaries showing nicely.
As it takes off, note the white underwing, though on this image the secondaries look a little darker, and the broad black tail band.		This image illustrates just how eye-catching the white underwing can be, particularly as it is about to land. Note also the strong facial pattern, with white fore-supercilia and chin, extending under the lores..
		Note: stance - though the upright stance on one image is notable, this is in my opinion often over-stated; the apricot wash from ear coverts onto breast and flanks, giving quite a concolorous look to the birds; the wing tip in relation to the tertial and tail tips; the brownish remiges; the tail high from the ground.
The final image, of an adult male Northern Wheatear, illustrates just how white the underwing coverts of Northern Wheatear can be. Some illustrations suggest that such white on the underwing coverts of male Northern does not exist, but in my experience it is seen more commonly in Northern than you might expect: some females can seem much paler than the literature suggests - white underwing coverts and paler remiges from below - and may be an unforseen pitfall for the unwary, particularly females which can be eye-catchingly whitish on young autumn females. Also, note the remiges are black compared with Isabelline Wheatear.

Brian J Small

Reference
Corso, A., 1997. Variability of identification characters of Isabelline Wheatear. Dutch Birding 19: 153-165, 1997.