The Abyssinian wheatear, or Abyssinian black wheatear, is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae, the Old World flycatchers and chats. It is found from Ethiopia to southern Kenya and north-eastern Tanzania.
Region
Horn of Africa and East African Rift
Typical Environment
Occurs from the Ethiopian Highlands south through Eritrea and northern Kenya to north-eastern Tanzania, favoring rugged, stony landscapes. Typical habitats include rocky slopes, cliffs, gorges, basalt and lava fields, boulder-strewn scrub, and dry montane grassland edges. It also utilizes human-made structures such as stone terraces and walls where natural crevices are available. Birds are generally sedentary but may shift locally in response to rainfall and food availability.
Altitude Range
1200–3500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
This chat favors rocky escarpments and lava fields, often perching conspicuously on boulders while flicking its tail to expose a white rump. It nests deep in rock crevices, walls, or stone piles, using grasses and hair to line the cup. Males are strikingly dark while females are browner and more muted, making the species a classic example of sexual dimorphism in wheatears.
Oenanthe l. schalowi
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, undulating flights between perches
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs, maintaining rocky territories year-round. Pairs nest in crevices, cavities in stone walls, or under rocks, laying a small clutch that both parents attend. Courtship and territorial displays often involve tail-fanning to highlight the white rump.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Male delivers a varied, wheatear-like warble of whistles, chattering phrases, and scratchy notes from exposed rock perches. Calls include sharp tacks and chatters used in alarm or contact.
Plumage
Male is mostly sooty to black with a contrasting white rump and uppertail coverts; tail shows a bold black terminal band. Female is dark brown to dusky with paler underparts and faint mottling, also showing the white rump and black tail band. Juveniles are mottled brown with a similar tail pattern.
Diet
Primarily feeds on ground-dwelling insects such as beetles, ants, termites, grasshoppers, and spiders, gleaned from rocky ground and sparse vegetation. It makes short sallies from perches to snatch prey and will flip small stones or probe crevices. Occasionally takes other small arthropods and may rarely consume small berries when available.
Preferred Environment
Forages on open rocky slopes, scree, and sparsely vegetated lava fields where bare ground and stones provide good visibility. Often hunts from boulder tops or low perches, dropping to the ground to seize prey.
