Cyprus 1983 - 20 cents - Pied Wheatear

 

 


Pied Wheatear



The Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka) is a small insectivorous bird, formerly classified as a thrush but now considered part of the Old World flycatcher family. It migrates from southeast Europe to China, wintering in India and northeastern Africa, and is a rare vagrant in western Europe. The male has a striking black-and-white appearance, with a white crown, black face and throat, and white rump. The female is browner with a sandy-buff head and is generally darker than the female northern wheatear. The bird's tail feathers have a black "T" pattern. Pied wheatears nest in open, stony areas, laying four to six eggs in crevices or under stones. Their diet consists mainly of insects, with some seeds.

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