The capped wheatear (Oenanthe pileata) is a small insectivorous passerinebird that is widely distributed over southern Africa. It was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now placed in the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae.
The capped wheatear was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with the wagtails in the genusMotacilla and coined the binomial nameMotacilla pileata.[2] The specific epithet is from Latinpileatus meaning "-capped".[3] Gmelin based his account on the "Black-hooded wheat-ear" that had been described in 1783 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his multi-volume work A General Synopsis of Birds. Latham's specimen had been collected near the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.[4] The capped wheatear is now placed in the genus Oenanthe that was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot.[5]
O. p. neseriMacdonald, 1952 – south Angola, Namibia, west Botswana and northwest South Africa
O. p. livingstonii (Tristram, 1868) – central Kenya to northeast South Africa and east Botswana
O. p. pileata (Gmelin, JF, 1789) – southwest Namibia and South Africa except northwest, northeast
Descriptionedit
The capped wheatear is 17–18 cm long and weighs 32 g. Its legs and pointed bill are black. This common species is striking and unmistakable in appearance. The adult has a black cap, cheeks and breast band, and white eye stripe and throat. The rest of the underparts are white with buff on the flanks and lower belly. Like other wheatears, it has a distinctive tail pattern with a black feathers on the base and centre of the tail forming an inverted T against the otherwise white rump. The juvenile has a brown cap and cheeks, and the breast band is weak and diffuse. However, the breast band, larger size, and white at the base of the outer tail feathers distinguish it from the migrant northern wheatear, which is rare over most of the capped wheatear's range.
Distribution and habitatedit
This wheatear is found in open dry sandy and stony habitats and short grassland with a few bushes and termite mounds in Africa, from Kenya and Angola south to the Cape. It is largely non-migratory, but undertakes seasonal movements.
Behaviouredit
The capped wheatear's song is a loud melodic warble interspersed with slurred chattering, and it has a chik-chik alarm call. It is monogamous and builds a nest of straw, grass, and leaves in a hole in the ground or a termite mound. It may use man-made drainage pipes if available. Typically three or four, sometimes more, eggs are laid. This solitary species feeds on insects, especially ants. Like other wheatears, it perches on mounds and hops over the short grass, or flies low over the ground.
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2016). "Oenanthe pileata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22710329A94242572. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22710329A94242572.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
^Gmelin, Johann Friedrich (1789). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae : secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1, Part 2 (13th ed.). Lipsiae [Leipzig]: Georg. Emanuel. Beer. p. 965.
^Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 306. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
^Latham, John (1783). A General Synopsis of Birds. Vol. 2, Part 2. London: Printed for Leigh and Sotheby. p. 471.
^ abGill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2023). "Chats, Old World flycatchers". IOC World Bird List Version 13.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton, SASOL Birds of Southern Africa (Struik 2002) ISBN1-86872-721-1
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oenanthe pileata.
Capped wheatear - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.
January 01, 1970
capped, wheatear, capped, wheatear, oenanthe, pileata, small, insectivorous, passerine, bird, that, widely, distributed, over, southern, africa, formerly, classed, member, thrush, family, turdidae, placed, world, flycatcher, family, muscicapidae, conservation,. The capped wheatear Oenanthe pileata is a small insectivorous passerine bird that is widely distributed over southern Africa It was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae but is now placed in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae Capped wheatear Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Muscicapidae Genus Oenanthe Species O pileata Binomial name Oenanthe pileata Gmelin JF 1789 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour 5 References 6 External linksTaxonomy editThe capped wheatear was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus s Systema Naturae He placed it with the wagtails in the genus Motacilla and coined the binomial name Motacilla pileata 2 The specific epithet is from Latin pileatus meaning capped 3 Gmelin based his account on the Black hooded wheat ear that had been described in 1783 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his multi volume work A General Synopsis of Birds Latham s specimen had been collected near the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa 4 The capped wheatear is now placed in the genus Oenanthe that was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot 5 Three subspecies are recognised 5 O p neseri Macdonald 1952 south Angola Namibia west Botswana and northwest South Africa O p livingstonii Tristram 1868 central Kenya to northeast South Africa and east Botswana O p pileata Gmelin JF 1789 southwest Namibia and South Africa except northwest northeastDescription editThe capped wheatear is 17 18 cm long and weighs 32 g Its legs and pointed bill are black This common species is striking and unmistakable in appearance The adult has a black cap cheeks and breast band and white eye stripe and throat The rest of the underparts are white with buff on the flanks and lower belly Like other wheatears it has a distinctive tail pattern with a black feathers on the base and centre of the tail forming an inverted T against the otherwise white rump The juvenile has a brown cap and cheeks and the breast band is weak and diffuse However the breast band larger size and white at the base of the outer tail feathers distinguish it from the migrant northern wheatear which is rare over most of the capped wheatear s range Distribution and habitat editThis wheatear is found in open dry sandy and stony habitats and short grassland with a few bushes and termite mounds in Africa from Kenya and Angola south to the Cape It is largely non migratory but undertakes seasonal movements Behaviour editThe capped wheatear s song is a loud melodic warble interspersed with slurred chattering and it has a chik chik alarm call It is monogamous and builds a nest of straw grass and leaves in a hole in the ground or a termite mound It may use man made drainage pipes if available Typically three or four sometimes more eggs are laid This solitary species feeds on insects especially ants Like other wheatears it perches on mounds and hops over the short grass or flies low over the ground References edit BirdLife International 2016 Oenanthe pileata IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22710329A94242572 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22710329A94242572 en Retrieved 13 November 2021 Gmelin Johann Friedrich 1789 Systema naturae per regna tria naturae secundum classes ordines genera species cum characteribus differentiis synonymis locis in Latin Vol 1 Part 2 13th ed Lipsiae Leipzig Georg Emanuel Beer p 965 Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London Christopher Helm p 306 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 Latham John 1783 A General Synopsis of Birds Vol 2 Part 2 London Printed for Leigh and Sotheby p 471 a b Gill Frank Donsker David Rasmussen Pamela eds July 2023 Chats Old World flycatchers IOC World Bird List Version 13 2 International Ornithologists Union Retrieved 17 August 2023 Ian Sinclair Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton SASOL Birds of Southern Africa Struik 2002 ISBN 1 86872 721 1External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oenanthe pileata Capped wheatear Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Capped wheatear amp oldid 1192686290, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
