Wheatear
CR

Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Northern Wheatear faces severe population declines across its range due to habitat degradation and climate change impacts on its breeding and wintering grounds. Agricultural intensification has eliminated crucial grassland and moorland habitats, while changing precipitation patterns and rising temperatures disrupt insect prey availability during critical breeding periods.

Threat summary

Habitat

Open grasslands, moorlands, heathlands, and alpine meadows typically above 200m elevation, requiring short-grass areas with scattered rocks, stone walls, or other perching sites for hunting insects. Also utilizes coastal dunes, upland pastures, and similar open habitats with sparse vegetation during breeding and migration.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Wheatear classified as Critically Endangered?
Wheatear is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Northern Wheatear faces severe population declines across its range due to habitat degradation and climate change impacts on its breeding and wintering grounds. Agricultural intensification has eliminated crucial grassland and moorland habitats, while changing precipitation patterns and rising temperatures disrupt insect prey availability during critical breeding periods.
Where does Wheatear live?
Wheatear occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Wheatear?
The main threats to Wheatear are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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