432 



A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



The Western Desert- Wheateav (QSnanthe fl.homo- 



chroa). Adult male. Showing large amount of 



black on tail. 



secondaries same but with broader white edges to outer webs and 

 tips and more white on inner webs, innermost three secondaries 

 brown broadly edged sandy-buff, the innermost with most of outer 

 web sandy - buff ; primary- 

 coverts black narrowly ti j)ped 

 white ; greater wing-coverts 

 black edged and tipped white, 

 innermost feathers Avith most 

 of outer webs white and iimer 

 webs brown mixed with 

 Avhite ; median and lesser 

 wing-coverts black tipped 

 sandy-buff to white, inner 

 feathers mostly sandy or 

 white with black bases. This 

 plumage is acquired by com- 

 plete moult June-Aug. Sum- 

 mer. — The ear-coverts and 

 sometimes a few feathers 

 on chin are moulted Feb.- 

 April but otherwise no moult. 

 Abrasion of tijjs and edges of 

 feathers makes throat, wing- 

 and tail-feathers and outer 



Aving-coverts uniform black, mantle and scapulars richer sandy and 

 upper tail-coA''erts and rmnp Avhiter, while in much worn plumage 

 blackish-grey bases of feathers of croAvn and nape are disclosed 

 and black extending from sides of neck more i^rominent. 



Adult female. Winter. — Upper-parts as male but rump and 

 upper tail-coverts rather more buff ; lores and eye-stripe pale buff ; 

 ear-coA^erts sandy-broAvn to dark broAAai ; chin and throat buffish- 

 Avhite ; axillaries and iinder Aving-coverts Avhite with brownish- 

 black bases ; rest of under-parts as male ; tail as male but broAvner 

 black ; Aving-feathers broAvner with Avider and more buff edgings 

 and tips ; Aving-coA-erts broAvner with more sandy-buff and less 

 Avhite edgings and tips. Moult as in male. Summer. — Abrasion 

 makes rump and under-parts Avhiter ; feathers of chin and throat 

 Avhen much worn shoAv dark bases ; much of buff edgings wears off 

 Aving -feathers and Aving-co Averts but not to same extent as in male. 

 N.B. — Some females haA^e considerable amount of broAA-n-black 

 on chin and throat. 



Nestling. — (Not examined.) 



Juvenile. — Upper-parts as adult female but each feather Avith 

 pale centre and broAAuiish tip giving ui^per-jiarts slightly spotted 

 appearance ; rump and upper tail-coverts Avhiter than in adult 

 female ; lores and ear -coverts sandy-buff ; under -jmrts bufhsli- 

 AA'hite, feathers of throat and breast Avith broAAaiish-buff tips ; 



