Western Black-eared Wheatear

Oenanthe hispanica (Linnaeus, 1758) (8, 12)

Photo © Bryan Thomas

STATUS

South-west, south central Europe and north-west Africa. Monotypic.

OVERVIEW

Black-eared Wheatear O. hispanica was split into two species during 2019: Eastern Black-eared Wheatear O. melanoleuca and Western Black-eared Wheatear O. hispanica.

Below are the records accepted as of this species.

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1892 Yorkshire Spurn, male, dark-throated, seen, 18th September, O. h. hispanica.

(J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1892: 424; J. Cordeaux, Naturalist 19: 7; J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1895: 57; J. Cordeaux, Naturalist 23: 201; Saunders, 1899; Witherby, 1920-24; Mather, 1986).

2). 1907 Fair Isle No locality, male, dark-throated, shot, 25th September, O. h. hispanica, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1908.15.26).

(W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1907: 246; W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1908: 81-82; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 1: 382; Clarke, 1912; Witherby, 1920-24; Thom, 1986; Dymond, 1991).

3). 1911 Outer Hebrides St Kilda, female, obtained, 21st September, O. h. hispanica.

(Clarke, 1912; Eds., British Birds 6: 152; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 32: 279; Witherby, 1920-24; Thom, 1986).

4). 1940 Lancashire & North Merseyside Near Lytham, two, males, seen, 18th to 22nd April, O. h. hispanica.

(R. H. Fisher & J. W. Sutcliffe, British Birds 34: 109-110; Oakes, 1953).

6). 1943 Lancashire & North Merseyside Ainsdale, male, dark-throated, seen, 21st April, O. h. hispanica.

(W. Boyd, British Birds 37: 36; Oakes, 1953).

7). 1947 Devon Musbury Castle, Seaton, male, dark-throated, 3rd to 6th May, O. h. hispanica.

(D. G. Smart, British Birds 40: 345; M. Brooks-King, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1947: 20-21; Moore, 1969).

8). 1949 Fife Isle of May, first-winter male, dark-throated, trapped, 30th September to 8th October, O. h. hispanica.

(H. F. D. Elder, Scottish Naturalist 62: 103-105; H. F. D. Elder, British Birds 43: 207-208; W. J. Eggeling, Scottish Birds 8: 115; Thom, 1986).

9). 1965 Norfolk Salthouse, probably adult, male, 30th August to 14th September, O. h. hispanica.

(D. D. Harber and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 59: 293; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 97: 598).

10). 1970 Caernarfonshire Bardsey, male, 18th April, O. h. hispanica.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 64: 358; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 97: 598).

11). 1987 Hampshire Farlington Marshes, male, 5th June, O. h. hispanica.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 81: 579; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 96: 589).

12). 1987 Cornwall Hill Tor, Bodmin Moor, first-summer male, 12th to 13th June, photo, O. h. hispanica.

(L. G. R. Evans, Twitching 1: 153-154; British Birds 80: plate 252; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 81: 579; Saunders, 1991: 114, photo).

13). 1988 Kent/Sussex Bewl Water, male, 5th May, photo, O. h. hispanica.

(R. Baines, Birding World 1: 167, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 82: 541).

14). 1992 Kent Dengemarsh, Dungeness, male, 16th May, O. h. hispanica.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 86: 509).

15). 1993 Norfolk Stiffkey, first-winter male, 24th October to 1st November, photo, O. h. hispanica.

(Birding World 6 (10): 386, photo; Birding World 6 (12): 481, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 87: 549, plate 154; Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report 1993: photos; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 96: 589).

16). 1997 Isles of Scilly Wingletang Down, St Agnes, male, dark-throated, 5th to 6th May, photo, O. h. hispanica.

(Birding World 10 (5): 171, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 91: 502; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 96: 589; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 111).

17). 2002 Cornwall Nanquidno, St Just, male, 23rd March to 1st April, photo, O. h. hispanica.

(Birding World 15 (3): 91, photos; Birding World 15 (12): 517, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 96: 589; Birds in Cornwall 2002: photo).

18). 2010 Isles of Scilly Garrison, St Mary's, first-winter female, 9th to 13th October, photo, O. h. hispanica.

(Birding World 23 (10): 427, photo; Birding World 23 (12): 538, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 104: 615, plate 332).

19). 2012 Lincolnshire Frampton Marsh RSPB, first-summer female, 12th June, photo O. h. hispanica.

(Birding World 25 (6): 233, photo; British Birds 106: plate 291; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 106: 622; Lincolnshire Bird Report 2012: photo).

20). 2018 Orkney Senness, North Ronaldsay, 1CY, female, 11th October, photo. O. h. hispanica.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 609, plate 344).