Birds of Britain 



This species very closely resembles the Common Wheat- 

 ear, but may be distinguished as follows : It is more 

 tawny, has more black in its tail, and the under wing 

 coverts are white. Length 6*5 in. ; wing 3*9 in. 



THE BLACK-EARED WHEATEAR 



Saxicola stapazina (Linnaeus) nee Vieillot 



The home of this species is in Southern Europe and 

 North Africa. It has occurred in Sussex on three occasions 

 during both the autumn and spring migrations. 



Frontal line, lores, and a large patch extending back- 

 wards beyond the ear coverts, wings and wing coverts, 

 black ; mantle and breast rufous, rest of the plumage in- 

 cluding the throat white. In the female the black is 

 replaced by brownish and the upper parts are brownish 

 grey. Length about 5 in. ; wing 3 '5 in. 



(N.R The name stapazina has, until recently, been used 

 for the next species, whose proper name is occidentalis.) 



THE BLACK-THROATED WHEATEAR 



Saxicola occidentalis, Salvador! 



This is a very common summer visitor to the south of 

 Europe, breeding regularly in France as far north as the 

 Loire. It has occurred here on two or three occasions only. 



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