Oenanthe isabellina

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).

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