Mountain Wheatears,
Oenanthe monticola, are resident to mountainous and rocky habitats, but they are often also found around man-made features like quarries and factory or mining sites. The name “wheatear” has nothing to do with wheat or ears. I have it as being a corruption of "white arse", a feature (the conspicuous white rump) which one sees as the bird hops along its territory, or flies away from you.
The Mountain Wheatear is one of the few species in our region that displays distinct plumage forms. Only the male has different colour forms, and the observation above is of a worn grey morph. There is also the dark morph, which may or may not have a pale crown, which itself can be either white or grey and of varying size. The female is generally a dull dark brown colour.
They are insectivorous, monogamous and territorial.
The female is sole constructer of the nest, building a lined cup on an untidy foundation, normally in a cavity protected by significant structure, often re-using the same site if the breeding attempt turns out successful.
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