Photo: J G Keulemans, Cropped by User:Kersti Nebelsiek / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Heuglin’s Wheatear
Oenanthe heuglinii
Heuglin's Wheatear (Oenanthe heuglinii) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Heuglin’s Wheatear (Oenanthe heuglinii) is a member of the Muscicapidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 19.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Muscicapidae Chats, Old World Flycatchers
- Genus Oenanthe
- Species heuglinii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 19.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Heuglin’s Wheatear is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Heuglin’s Wheatear is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Heuglin’s Wheatear (Oenanthe heuglinii) belongs to the Muscicapidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Mauritania, Guinea and Cameroon to Sudan and nw Kenya.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 19.9 g, with a wing length of about 8.7 cm and a tail of around 5.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.7 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Heuglin’s Wheatear?
The Heuglin’s Wheatear is a small bird that weighs around 19.9 g.
Where does the Heuglin’s Wheatear live?
The Heuglin’s Wheatear is found across Africa with a range covering AF Mauritania, Guinea and Cameroon to Sudan and nw Kenya, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Heuglin’s Wheatear belong to?
The Heuglin’s Wheatear (Oenanthe heuglinii) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Heuglin’s Wheatear eat?
The Heuglin’s Wheatear is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Heuglin’s Wheatear migrate?
The Heuglin’s Wheatear is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Heuglin’s Wheatear endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Heuglin’s Wheatear's range?
The Heuglin’s Wheatear has a mapped global range of about 4.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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