Oenanthe oenanthe
Status: No accepted records.
Taxonomy: Three subspecies are generally recognized, two of which breed in North America: oenanthe breeding in northwest North America and wintering in tropical Africa, and leocorhoa breeding in northeast North America and also wintering in tropical Africa (Dunn et al 2022).
Comments: There are two published reports (Bray et al 1986), neither acceptably documented, although a sighting by Zimmer (1911) in Dawes Co 2 Dec 1910 is likely correct; he observed the bird closely for some time but was unable to collect it and stated that while he was “sure of the identity of the bird,” it “cannot be included in our fauna positively” as he was unable to secure it as a specimen. The other report was of five with Horned Larks 4 Jan 1970 in Gage Co (Patton 1970). A brief description was given, but longspur species would seem more likely.
This species breeds in North American Arctic, but winters in Africa, Alaska breeders via Siberia and Asia, Greenland breeders via a 3500 km, four-day transatlantic crossing (Dunn et al 2022). There are several records along the east and west coasts of North America in spring and fall, and a few stragglers to the interior, also in spring and fall. There are about 13 Great Plains reports, eight in Canada and Minnesota Apr-May (3) and Sep-Nov (5), and none until New Mexico, western Arkansas, western Louisiana and Texas, where there are four records Sep-Oct and one wintering in southern Texas Jan-Mar (eBird.org, accessed Nov 2023).
Literature Cited
Bray, T.E., B.K. Padelford, and W.R. Silcock. 1986. The birds of Nebraska: A critically evaluated list. Published by the authors, Bellevue, Nebraska, USA.
Dunn, E.H., D.J.T. Hussell, J. Kren, and A.C. Zoerb. 2022. Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), version 2.1. In Birds of the World (P. G. Rodewald and B. K. Keeney, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.norwhe.02.1.
Patton, F. 1970. Wheatears? NBR 38: 18.
Zimmer, J.T. 1911. Some notes on the winter birds of Dawes County. Proceedings Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union 5: 19-30.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2023. Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Birds of Nebraska – Online
Updated 30 Nov 2023