Variable Wheatear Oenanthe picata has been reported in China only in Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang. Male of morph “capistrata” distinguished from Pied Wheatear O. pleschanka by broad and even black terminal band on tail and white edges to outer tail feathers (terminal band on tail of Pied Wheatear is narrower and more ragged, and edges to outer rectrices are black). Pied Wheatear also has more white on nape (extending to mantle; white on “capistrata” ends on nape) and less black on throat (not extending to upper breast, as in “capistrata”). Other morphs may show nearly all black plumage or black plumage on head and upperparts and white underparts. Females separable from Pied Wheatear by tail pattern. — Craig Brelsford
THE WHEATEARS OF CHINA
shanghaibirding.com has research on all five species of wheatear in China. Click any link:
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
Isabelline Wheatear O. isabellina
Desert Wheatear O. deserti
Pied Wheatear O. pleschanka
Variable Wheatear O. picata
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
