Scientific name: Oenanthe hispanica (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Thrushes and allies
Field characters. 14.5 cm. Occurs in two morphs. Male with black mask, extending onto ear coverts, throat either white (western race hispanica), or black (eastern race melanoleuca); with rather short (hispanica) or long primary projection (melanoleuca), and ocher (hispanica) or more greyish-yellow mantle and breast (melanoleuca). Both forms are currently considered separate species (Western and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear). Wings black; central tail-feathers and distal half of outermost black, remainder of tail white, reaching almost to tip on 3rd-4th outermost tail-feather, distal tail-band appearing less square-cut as in other wheatears (but pattern shared by Pied Wheatear). Otherwise sandy coloured or almost white. Female resembles female Northern Wheatear, but sandy-brown head, neck and upperparts; wings brown; tail with same black-and-white pattern as male; underparts off-white. Plumage in both male and female highly variable and sometimes very difficult to distinguish from Pied Wheatear, except for adult male in full breeding plumage.
Voice. Call a dry 'chek'; song hurried, with long variable phrases of whistling and rattling tones.
Distribution. Common summer visitor. The border between populations of Western and Eastern Black-eared Wheatear runs through Italy and Croatia.
Habitat. Dry, open and stony or sandy areas, with bushes and scattered trees. Does not penetrate to higher mountains.
Food. Insects, which are spotted from a perch, then caught on the ground or sometimes in the air; often returns to the same perch, like Spotted Flycatcher.