Northern Wheatear in Delaware

Colin Campbell found Delaware’s 2nd record of a Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe this afternoon at Fox Point State Park in Wilmington. There have been less than twenty accepted records of Northern Wheatear between PA, NJ and DE, and most of these have been seen along the coast. This is one of only a handful of inland sightings.

The Fox Point SP is located between the Delaware River and Rte 495, and is very barren – mowed grass and almost treeless. Perfect wheatear country!

Wheatears are a relatively distinctive Old World group of birds in the thrush family, with most inhabiting open country. Nearly all of them show a conspicious white rump, and white-and-black tail (above) of varying degree. In North America, the Northern Wheatear breeds in the far northwestern and northeastern reaches of this continent. It overwinters in sub-Saharan Africa, making it one of the longest distant migrants.

There are similarities between Northern and Isabelline Wheatear, in particular in non-breeding plumage, so one has to to be careful in identifying it correctly. Isabelline is a species found in Eastern Europe and Western Asia and has yet to be recorded in North America. The bird above shows a buffy supercillium in front of the eye eliminating the possibility of it being an Isabelline, which has a white supercillium that extends in front of the eye. It also shows a strong rufous colouration to the ear patch, which Isabelline would not show.

The posture (gizz) on this bird shows a rather full potbelly. This is a characteristic of the larger ‘Greenland’ race of Northern Wheatear,  Oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa, that breeds in the northeastern part of North America. Also noticeable is that the breast, belly and undertail are all a similar buffy colour, which would not be the case in the slightly smaller, slimmer and lighter nominate race.

Another mark pointing to the leucorhoa race is the broad buffy fringes to the coverts, secondaries and tertials (above) that contrast with the wing and back colour. In the nominate race these are narrow buff fringes.

Could this possibly be a 1st winter male, as it seems as though it is beginning to get the first signs of black lores and auriculars (above and below)?

Congratulations once again to Colin, who was birding on his bike on a sub-freezing day, when he found this gem!!  There is a saying, “Mad dogs and Scots only go out on a bloody cold mid-winters day.” But it obviously pays off.

Any additional comments, corrections and or identification points are always welcome.