The mourning wheatear is a bird, one of 14 species of wheatear found in northern Africa and the Middle East. It is a small passerine in a group formerly classed as members of the thrush family Turdidae, but now more generally considered to be part of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae.
Region
North Africa and the Middle East
Typical Environment
Occurs from Morocco and Western Sahara across the Maghreb and the Sahara’s northern margins through Egypt and the Sinai, east to Israel, Jordan, and the Arabian Peninsula, reaching parts of Iraq and southwestern Iran. It favors open, stony deserts, rocky plateaus, wadis, and escarpments with sparse vegetation. The species readily uses human-made structures such as old buildings and walls for perching and nesting. It is well adapted to arid landscapes and can persist far from permanent water.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2800 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The mourning wheatear is a desert specialist of North Africa and the Middle East, often seen flicking its tail to reveal a striking white rump with a black tail band. It nests in cavities among rocks, ruins, and dry stone walls, sometimes reusing old burrows. Subspecies vary in the amount of black on the head and back, ranging from white-crowned to nearly all-black-headed forms. Once grouped with thrushes, it is now placed in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae.
Oenanthe lugens lugens - MHNT
Temperament
alert and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, direct flights between perches
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs; strongly territorial in the breeding season. Nests in crevices, rock piles, or walls, lining cavities with plant fibers and hair. Performs display flights and uses prominent perches for singing and foraging. Outside breeding, may occur loosely with other small desert passerines.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Song is a brief, varied series of whistles and chattering phrases delivered from a perch or during short song flights. Calls include a sharp chak and a dry ticking note, often given while tail-flicking.
Plumage
High-contrast, clean patterning; males typically show black face and throat with white underparts and rump, and variable black vs. pale crown and mantle depending on subspecies. Females are duller, sandy-brown to gray-brown above with paler underparts. All forms show the classic wheatear tail pattern with a white base and broad black terminal band.
Diet
Primarily takes ground-dwelling insects such as beetles, ants, termites, grasshoppers, and various larvae, plus spiders and other arthropods. It occasionally snaps flying insects in short sallies from a perch. Small berries or seeds may be taken opportunistically, especially outside the breeding season. Foraging often involves quick dashes on open ground and flipping small stones to expose prey.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in open, sparsely vegetated rocky deserts, gravel plains, and wadis with scattered shrubs and boulders. Often hunts from low perches such as rocks, cairns, or fence posts, making short hops to seize prey. Readily exploits human-altered sites like ruins and dry stone walls.
