British Population Size:
Summer:
530 to 550 thousand individuals
in 2000
 
First Record:
Recorded in Medieval times
[Fossil evidence from
Ipswichian (last) interglacial, c. 125,000 yr ago]
Latest Survey:
Gillings, S & Newson, S (2007) British Birds 100:179-180
Conservation Status:
AMBER
because
Species of European Concern,
Previous Assessments:
2002-2007
GREEN
1996-2001
GREEN
Races of Concern:
oenanthe AMBER (European Concern), leucorhoa GREEN
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Moorland
And found in:
Grass/Heath
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
Migration routes:
Map of foreign ringing recoveries
Average Day of First Arrival:
11 Mar
European Population Size:
Summer:
4.1 to 11.5 million pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe mapped by the EBCC Atlas
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
21 x 16 mm
Egg Weight:
2.7 g (of which 5 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
94
(more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size:
5 - 6 eggs
5.45 ± 0.87 (2 - 8) N = 470
Incubation:
14 days
14.25 ± 0.99 (12.5 - 16.5) N = 470
by the:
Female (occ. Male)
Fledging:
16 - 17days
15.54 ± 1.08 (13 - 16.5) N = 2140
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
11 May (24 Apr - 11 Jun)
Number of Broods:
2(3)
See trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
Annual Totals
Adult Survival:
0.460
(M:0.500
± 0.020;
F:0.420
± 0.020)
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
2
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
8 years 3 months 16 days (set in 2010)
Read a summary of Ringing Recoveries
Biometrics
Ring Size:
A (pulli B)
Wing Length
Adult:
100.0 ± 4.7
Range
81.0 - 116.5 mm, (N = 3168)
Juvenile:
97.6 ± 4.3
Range
76.0 - 117.0 mm, (N = 4458)
Male:
101.5 ± 4.5
Range
81.0 - 116.5 mm, (N = 1600)
Female:
98.5 ± 4.4
Range
83.0 - 115.0 mm, (N = 1533)
Weight
Adult:
28.33 ± 5.17
Range
14.20 - 46.30 g , (N =3014)
Juvenile:
25.1 ± 2.8
Range
14.4 - 40.1 . , (N =4182)
Male:
28.96 ± 5.45
Range
16.20 - 46.20 g , (N =1524)
Female:
27.69 ± 4.76
Range
14.80 - 46.30 g , (N =1456)
Seasonal:
Summer 29.11 ± 5.82 (N = 3352)  
Autumn 26.82 ± 3.86 (N = 533)
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Northern Wheatear
Gaelic:
Brù-gheal
Welsh:
Tinwen y Garn
Danish:
Stenpikker
Dutch:
Tapuit
Finnish:
Kivitasku
French:
Traquet motteux
German:
Steinschmätzer
Hungarian:
Hantmadár
Icelandic:
Steindepill
Irish:
Clochrán
Italian:
Culbianco
Norwegian:
Steinskvett
Polish:
Bialorzytka zwyczajna
Portuguese:
Chasco-cinzento
Spanish:
Collalba gris
Swedish:
Stenskvätta
Local Names: White Arse
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Conder, P. 1989 The wheatear Christopher Helm, London
[598.911 CON]
Panov, E.N. 2005 Wheatears of Palearctic [sic] Pensoft Publishers
[598.911 PAN]
See Also:
Find scientific papers on Google Scholar
or Scirus by clicking the icon
Wikipedia entry
BirdLife species page
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides
Details from the Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
Read State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead