Capped wheatear, Oenanthe pileata, photographed at Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa.
Image: Dan Logen, 18 January 2010 [velociraptorize].
Nikon D300 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender, f/8 1/1000 sec ISO 400
Question: This African mystery bird is part of a widely-distributed family of birds that even reach North America. Can you name this bird and its North American relative?
Response: This is a capped wheatear, Oenanthe pileata. There are 20 species of wheatears, all of which are placed into the genus Oenanthe. Its New World cousin is the northern wheatear, O. oenanthe.
Interestingly (to linguaphiles), the wheatears' name has nothing to do with either wheat or ears. It comes from a mispronunciation of "white arse", which refers to its prominent white rump, a characteristic of the group.
You are invited to review all of the daily mystery birds by going to their dedicated graphic index page.
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