י 408) סלעית שחורת-בטן

White-crowned Black Wheatear
White-crowned Black Wheatear
White-crowned Black Wheatear












Oenanthe leucopyga
Oenanthe leucopyga
Oenanthe leucopyga


:סלעית שחורת-בטן
, בולטת בניגוד שבין גופה השחור וזנבה הלבן
. מלבד כתם שחור על שתי האברות המרכזיות
. לבוגרים כיפת הראש והעורף מלבינים
, בית גידולה משתרע באזור הסהרו-ערבי
. ממרוקו לחצי האי ערב עד לירדן ולארץ
. מקום חיותה קניונים ומצוקים באזורים מדבריים יבשים במיוחד
. בארץ יציבה ושכיחה במדבר יהודה ובנגב מלבד בצפונו ובערבה
Subspecies and Distribution.
O. l. leucopyga desert zone of N Africa W of Nile valley, and N-E Sudan.
O. l. erneste Egypt E of Nile valley, Sinai, and Arabia north to Dead Sea area. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם
Descriptive notes.
17-19 cm, 23-32 g, wingspan 26-32 cm. Rather large, oval-headed and oval-bodied, glossy black wheatear, with bold white rump and tail often showing only black central line. Somewhat less plump than Black Wheatear but with slightly longer, more pointed wings, distinctly larger than Eastern Pied Wheatear, with longer wings.
Adults of both sexes have white crown. Sexes similar, no seasonal variation.
Habitat.
Across Afro-Arabian lower middle latitudes, Mediterranean to subtropical and tropical. A true Saharan species characteristic of desert with less than 100 mm annual precipitation. Frequents the most impoverished localities, at all altitudes up to 3000 m, especially rocky and sometimes earthen banks of wadis, but also oases.
Food and Feeding.
Mainly insects, but diet notably diverse, including plant material and small reptiles. Catches prey in flight, on ground, or in bushes.
Typically perches on low vantage points and drops down or sallies forth, up to 10 m away, to take prey from ground in manner of a shrike. At moment of capture, frequently spreads wings, sometimes repeatedly, perhaps to confuse and entrap prey.
Breeding.
Feb-May in N-W African Sahara, Mar-Apr in Egypt and Sinai, mid feb in Arabia. Nest site in hole in rocks, under stones, in bank, or occasionally in wall of building.
Nest, cup of dry grass, lined with wool and feathers, sometimes with base of twigs or bits of wood. 3-5 eggs, sub-elliptical, smooth and glossy, very pale to whitish-blue, sparsely spotted red-brwon at broad end. Incubation 14 days by female.
Movements.
Largely sedentary throughout range, though some individuals or populations may make short distance movements in winter.
Status and Conservation.
Not globally threatened. common in habitat areas.
Israel.
In Israel subspecies O. l. ernesti quite common resident in Judean Desert, E-C-S Negev and western Arava Valley.

O. l. ernesti
in Israel




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