Desert Wheatear
Scientific Name: Oenanthe desertiMaltese Name: Kuda tad-Dezert
Family: Chats and thrushes (Turdidae)
Occurence: Vagrant
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Desert Wheatear breeds in the Sahara and the northern Arabian peninsula. It is a migratory insectivorous species. The Desert Wheatear is a rare vagrant to western Europe.The upper parts of the male in summer are buff. The underparts are white with a buff tinge on the breast. The black on the face and throat extends to the shoulders, and there is distinct white superciliary stripe. The female is greyer above and buffer below and has no black on the throat, and in the winter plumage the black on the throat of the male is obscured by white tips.
Status:
Vagrant to the Maltese Islands, with only 13 records. The latest photographed record was in December 2007 at Qammieh. Before that, another bird was reocrded at Migra Ferha in December 2005.
When to See:
Mostly in Winter Months.
Photographs:
 |
Desert Wheatear, December 2005, Migra Ferha |
 |
 |
| Desert Wheatear, December 2007, Qammieh | Desert Wheatear, December 2005, Migra Ferha |
 |
 |
| Desert Wheatear, December 2007, Qammieh | Desert Wheatear, December 2005, Migra Ferha |
Watch a video of the Desert Wheatear:
Back to Bird Species List