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Oenanthe isabellina

warning Vulnerable
VU (C1,D1)

Contributed: Avner Rinot, Asaf Mayrose, Yoav Perlman, Lior Kislev, Ido Zurim

The Isabelline Wheatear is classified as Vulnerable (VU) because of its small population size (less than 1,000 mature individuals) as well as the rate of decline in the number of breeding individuals, which is estimated at more than 10% during 3 generations (12.3 years). In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was classified as Least Concern (LC). The change in the status of the species reflects a decline in population and its disappearance from large parts of its previous range particularly in the steppe region (e.g. the Jordan Valley and southern Golan Heights).
VU Current Regional Assessment | LC Previous Regional Assessment | LC World Assessment

Habitats Semi-desert Batha, Desert Plains, Loess Ravines, Inland Sand Dunes
Presence In Israel Summer Breeder, Migrant, Resident
Nesting In Israel Breeder
Migration Types Short Range / Partial
Zoography Zones Irano-Turanian, Saharo-Arabian
Landscape Formations Plains & Valleys, Wide Wadis
Vegetation Formations Steppe, Herbaceous
Vegetation Densities Low
Nest Locations Ground
Diet Types Invertebrate
Foraging Grounds Ground
Body Sizes Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors Plantations, Habitat Fragmentation, Unknown

The Isabelline Wheatear is a large, upright, long-legged and long-billed wheatear. Its color is a relatively uniform sandy brown, but in flight it displays a contrasting black and white tail. Usually seen standing on low perches, and compared to other wheatears it spends a lot of time running and hopping on the ground. The male sings from the air or from the ground, and his characteristic song is a flute-like whistle interspersed with harsh rattling sounds.

Small numbers of Isabelline Wheatears summer and breed in the Western and Central Negev, and very rarely in the Jordan Valley and the Golan Heights. It winters in small numbers in the Negev, the Arava and the Jordan Valley and is a common passage migrant in autumn and spring throughout the country. Until the late 1980s, the Isabelline Wheatear was more common and nested in the Northern Negev, Judean Desert Plateau, the Jordan Valley and the Golan Heights as well. At that time, the estimated population was at least a few hundred individuals (Shirihai 1996). There is no updated assessment.

The Isabelline Wheatear nests on sandy and loess plains and on grassy steppes in the desert and steppe regions. After rain events and formation of “green patches”, it can expand its range to more extreme desert regions.

No specific conservation measures have been taken for this species to date.

  • פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.
  • פרלמן, י., אלתרמן, ש. וגרניט, ב. 2011. סקר עופות דוגרים בנחלים הפנימיים, אביב 2011. דו"ח מרכז הצפרות של החברה להגנת הטבע.
  • Perlman, Y., Shochat, E. and Labinger, Z. 2011. Developing Managment plan for important bird areas in southern Israel. second annual report, Nizzana region and Arava Valley.Israeli Ornithological center, SPNI.
  • Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
  • Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
  • Species page at Birdlife International
Contributed: Avner Rinot, Asaf Mayrose, Yoav Perlman, Lior Kislev, Ido Zurim

Current Occupancy Map

Distribution maps

The maps presented here provide visual information on the distribution of species in Israel in the past and present, and the changes in occupancy and nesting density during the comparison period. For further reading


Relative Abundance 2010-2020

Breeding density values as calculated from observation records and expert opinions.

Relative Abundance 1980-1990

Breeding density values are based mainly on the book Birds of Israel (Shirihai 1996).

Occupancy difference 1990-2020

A map that expresses differences in the breeding distribution between the evaluation periods (1980-1990 versus 2010-2020). Negative value - species previously present but is currently absent, positive value - species has not been recorded previously and is currently present, zero - no change in occupancy.

Relative abundance difference 1990-2020

A map that reflects the changes in the relative abundance of the species between the evaluation periods (1980-1990 versus 2010-2020). Negative values - decline in abundance, positive values - increase in abundance, zero - no change in abundance.


Rarity
Vulnerability
Attractiveness
Endemism
Red number
Peripherality

IUCN category
Definition

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Disjunctiveness:
% of protected sites

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