About Oenanthe lugubris (Rüppell, 1837)
Oenanthe lugubris, commonly called the Abyssinian wheatear, is a dark species of wheatear that displays sexual dichromatism, with males being darker than females. Males have black upperparts, throat, and breast, along with a grey cap marked with darker streaks. Belly colour varies both between individuals and across geographic populations, ranging from white to black. Females are mainly dark brown, with heavy streaking across their paler breast and belly. Both males and females have buff-coloured under tail coverts. Their tail has a black inverted T pattern set against a buff background, a marking that is most visible when the bird is in flight. The nominate subspecies measures 14 cm (5.5 in) in total length. The Abyssinian wheatear is native to northeastern Africa, where its range extends from Eritrea and northwestern Somalia south to northeastern Tanzania. Two additional subspecies have disjunct ranges separate from the nominate subspecies found in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and northwestern Somalia: the subspecies schalowi lives in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, while the subspecies vauriei occurs in eastern Somalia. This species inhabits rocky areas that have some scattered trees and bushes.
