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22 April 2015

White-crowned Wheatears near Tabuk – Bird records by Viv Wilson

Viv Wilson photographed some White-crowned Wheatears Oenanthe leucopyga  playing or fighting on the jebals near to Tabuk. Viv sent me the photos and has kindly allowed me to use them on my website. White-crowned Wheatears is au uncommon resident in areas where it is found, normally associated with granite and sandstone jebals and other rocky areas although it status in the southern part of the Kingdom is unclear. Birds of the Riyadh Region (1984) said they were locally common breeding resident with some movement within the region post-breeding and during the winter months. Jennings Birds of Saudi Arabia (1981) said they were a locally common breeding resident in dry rocky areas. Occurs Hejaz north from Taif, Northern Hejaz, Asir south of Soudah and Najran, Tuwaiq escarpment and locally in the Gulf. Also Jauf, Hail and Dawadimi. In my area of the Eastern Province they are only commonly seen in the Shedgum Escarpment area as far as I am aware.
White-crowned Wheatear

White-crowned Wheatear

White-crowned Wheatear

White-crowned Wheatear

White-crowned Wheatear

White-crowned Wheatear

White-crowned Wheatear

White-crowned Wheatear