The comparative ecology of eleven species of wheatear (genus oenanthe) in S. W. Iran

Thesis

Wheatears, genus Oenanthe, are small chat—like thrushes (family Muscicapidae, sub—family Turdinae). Eighteen species have been recognised of which four are confined to Africa while the remaining 14 have largely Palaearctic breeding distributions. They are all similar in size and morphology and some are alike in plumage. Their behaviour and ecology are also, broadly speaking, similar. They typically inhabit open, barren plains and hillsides which are often stony and boulderstrewn. They feed chiefly on insects and other small invertebrates which they catch largely on bare ground, mainly by making rapid pursuits on foot or by pouncing from elevated watch—posts. Most nest in rock crevices, under boulders or in holes in the ground. Suitable habitat is found particularly in the arid zone to which 11 of the 14 Palaearctic species are largely confined. Some species differ in their altitudinal ranges, geographical distributions and/Or habitats but the majority have contiguous or overlapping ranges so that in many areas, particularly in North Africa and the Middle East, several species occur. Indeed different species of wheatear have often been reported side by side in the same habitat.

[abstract continued in thesis]

Authors: Cornwallis, L

• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford