Separating Arabian Wheatear and Mourning Wheatear: An ID Guide for Birders in Saudi Arabia and Oman
- saudibirding
- Aug 18
- 10 min read
Updated: Aug 23
Introduction
The Mourning Wheatear (Oenanthe lugens) and the Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides) form part of the wider lugens complex, whose taxonomy has long been debated. Most current authorities (e.g. IOC, Clements, Birds of the World [BoTW]) now treat Arabian Wheatear as a distinct species, while some regional works, such as Birds of Saudi Arabia (Boland & Suhaibany), continue to regard it as conspecific with Mourning.
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In Arabia, two subspecies of each are present. Mourning Wheatear occurs as O. lugens lugens, a resident of the sandstone deserts of northwestern Arabia (Jennings 2010), and O. lugens persica, which breeds in Iraq and Iran and is a widespread winter visitor to eastern and central Arabia (Jennings 2010), sometimes reaching further south (BoTW). Arabian Wheatear is represented by the nominate O. lugentoides lugentoides, resident from the mountains around Taif south through western Yemen (Jennings 2010; BoTW), and O. lugentoides boscaweni, of eastern Yemen and southern Oman (BoTW).
A male Arabian Wheatear from the Dhofar region of Southern Oman
Habitat and elevation use broadly separate the two species. Mourning Wheatear typically occupies lowland and desert habitats, usually below 1,000 m, frequenting rocky canyons, escarpments, and stony plains (BoME; Jennings 2010). Arabian Wheatear, by contrast, is a montane species, inhabiting rocky hillsides, cliffs, juniper and acacia scrub, terraced fields, and village outskirts (BoME; Jennings 2010; BoTW). It is generally found above 1,000 m, though in southern Oman (boscaweni) it occurs almost to sea level (BoTW), while in southwest Saudi Arabia a few scattered lowland records may represent wandering persica rather than true Arabian (eBird obs.; Jennings 2010).
Despite these ecological differences, there is still the potential for misidentification on the following bases:
Morphological similarities – Male Arabian closely resembles both sexes of Mourning, and separation can be challenging without close attention to plumage and structure (BoME; BoTW).
Distributional uncertainty – Observers are sparse in central Arabia, raising the possibility that wintering persica may overlap geographically with resident Arabian in the southwest to a greater degree than previously thought (Jennings 2010).
Elevational overlap – While Arabian is usually above 1,000 m, particularly in southwest Saudi Arabia, southern Oman’s boscaweni descends to the coastal plains, increasing the risk of confusion with wintering Mourning in more open lowland habitats (BoTW).
The purpose of this ID guide is to help visiting birders to southwest Saudi Arabia and southern Oman avoid misidentifications in either direction, while also contributing to a clearer understanding of each species’ seasonal movements and the potential for local sympatry during the winter months.
Morphological Differences
At a glance, male Arabian Wheatear (O. lugentoides) and male Mourning Wheatear (O. lugens) appear very similar, both being black-and-white birds with rufous tones to the vent and undertail-coverts. The challenge of identification lies in subtle but consistent differences.
Male Arabian is generally more compact and thickset (BoTW), with more extensive black on the throat, neck sides, upper breast, and mantle (BoME; BoTW; Jennings 2010), and correspondingly less extensive white on the crown, nape, rump, and uppertail-coverts (BoTW). Its crown often shows dark streaking or grey wash, rather than the clean white more typical of Mourning (BoTW). The black terminal tail band tends to be broader, especially on the outer rectrices (BoTW), while the white in the wing is smaller and mainly restricted to the primaries, scarcely reaching the secondaries (BoME; BoTW).
Female Arabian is very different from Mourning, being dusky grey-brown above with warm rufous ear-coverts, streaking on the breast, and a pinkish-orange vent (BoME; BoTW), features lacking in Mourning, whose females resemble the male in general coloration (BoTW).
The subspecies O. lugentoides boscaweni, found in eastern Yemen and southern Oman, is slightly paler than the nominate lugentoides (BoTW), with males showing brighter, cleaner crowns and more extensive white in the remiges (BoTW), while females are more drab grey above with reduced rufous in the ear-coverts (BoTW). This paler, brighter appearance increases the potential for confusion with Mourning Wheatear in southern Oman, particularly in coastal and lowland habitats where both may occur in winter. Potentially compounding this, wintering Mourning in Arabia are predominantly persica, and fresh-plumaged persica can show a greyer crown with whitish supercilium, reduced white in the wing panel, and in some individuals more black extending onto the upper breast than typical lugens, approaching male Arabian (BoME; BoTW; BWP app). A well-documented long-staying UAE bird in September 2020 showed black reaching the upper breast consistent with this pattern (eBird/Macaulay obs.).
wheatear ID guide Saudi Arabia Oman
In addition to plumage traits, behavior can aid identification. Arabian Wheatear is generally sedentary and most often found in pairs throughout the year, reflecting its strong territorial pair bonds. When a male is observed, the female is typically nearby, often providing an additional opportunity to confirm identification through her distinctive plumage.
wheatear ID guide Saudi Arabia Oman
Comparative Key Features
Feature | Mourning Wheatear (Oenanthe lugens) | Arabian Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides) |
Structure | Slimmer-bodied. (BoTW) | More compact, thickset. (BoTW) |
Crown | Cleaner, whiter crown/nape (often unstreaked); persica often brownish-grey crown with whitish supercilium. (BoTW; BWP app) | Often streaked/washed grey; white on crown less extensive. (BoTW) |
Mantle / Upperparts | Black typically limited to face, throat, mantle; persica can show more black onto neck sides/upper breast in fresh plumage. (BWP app) | More extensive black on neck sides, upper breast, and mantle, extending toward rump. (BoME; BoTW) |
Rump & Uppertail | White rump/uppertail usually more extensive. (BoTW) | Smaller white rump patch; more black on back. (BoME; BoTW) |
Tail pattern | Black terminal band generally narrower; persica tends to have a broader terminal band. (BoTW) | Broader black terminal band, esp. on outer rectrices. (BoTW) |
Wing pattern | Broad, obvious white panel extending into secondaries; persica shows less white in the wing panel (reduced flashes). (BoME; BoTW; BWP app) | White mainly restricted to primaries; smaller/less conspicuous, scarcely reaching secondaries. (BoME; BoTW) |
Vent / Undertail-coverts | Rusty- to orange-buff vent (variable; persica often darker orange-buff). (BoTW) | Rufous-buff to orange-rufous vent/undertail-coverts, often darker. (BoME; BoTW) |
Female | Similar to male, slightly duller. (BoTW) | Dusky grey-brown, warm rufous ear-coverts, streaked breast, pinkish-orange vent. (BoME; BoTW) |
Subspecies notes | persica: greyer crown, less white in wings, broader tail band, darker orange vent; some fresh birds show more black onto upper breast. (BoTW; Jennings 2010; BWP app) | boscaweni: paler overall, brighter/cleaner crown, more white in remiges; females drabber with reduced rufous ear-coverts. (BoTW) |
Social behavior | Pairs mainly on breeding territories. (BoME; Jennings 2010; BoTW) | Sedentary/territorial; most often in pairs year-round. (Jennings 2010; BoTW) |
Representative Examples
The following examples illustrate clear, well-documented individuals of both Mourning and Arabian Wheatears from Arabia. These are intended to give visiting birders a reliable visual reference, highlighting the key identification features described above. Where possible, examples include both sexes and different subspecies, with emphasis on Arabian Wheatear females, whose distinctive plumage provides one of the most reliable field characters. Images are drawn from the Macaulay Library and represent birds photographed in their typical habitats in Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Arabian Wheatear (O. lugentoides lugentoides) in Saudi Arabia
A male Arabian Wheatear (O. lugentoides lugentoides) at around 1950 meters from Taif, Saudi Arabia.
A male Arabian Wheatear (O. lugentoides lugentoides) at around 2350 meters from Tanomah, Saudi Arabia.
A male Arabian Wheatear (O. lugentoides lugentoides) at around 2250 meters from Tanomah, Saudi Arabia.
A female Arabian Wheatear (O. lugentoides lugentoides) at around 2700 meters from near Al Soudah, Saudi Arabia.
A male and female Arabian Wheatear (O. lugentoides lugentoides) at around 2450 meters near Al Bahah, Saudi Arabia.
Mourning Wheatear (O. lugens lugens/persica) in Saudi Arabia
A Mourning Wheatear (likely O. lugens lugens based on location) at around 175 meters near Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Note the black throat doesn't extend onto the upper breast.
A Mourning Wheatear (likely O. lugens persica based on location) at around 750 meters near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Note the slimmer build and black throat limited to the face and throat.
A Mourning Wheatear (likely O. lugens persica based on location) at around 675 meters near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Note the slimmer build and bright crown extending diffusely down the nape.
A Mourning Wheatear (likely O. lugens lugens based on location) at around 750 meters near Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Note the black throat does not extend onto the upper breast, and the crown reaches down the nape.
Arabian Wheatear (O. lugentoides boscaweni) in Southern Oman
A male and female Arabian Wheatear (O. lugentoides boscaweni) at around 200 meters near Salalah, Oman.
A male Arabian Wheatear (O. lugentoides boscaweni) at around 200 meters from near Salalah, Oman. Note how the black throat extends onto the upper breast and the crown, while bright, doesn't extend as far down the nape.
A female Arabian Wheatear (O. lugentoides boscaweni) at around 650 meters near Mirbat, Oman.
A male Arabian Wheatear (O. lugentoides boscaweni) at around 850 meters near Mirbat, Oman. Note how the crown does not extend all the way down the nape.
Mourning Wheatear in Oman
According to the official list of birds for Oman (Eriksen 2020), Mourning Wheatear (O. lugens persica) is a rare passage migrant and winter visitor. In line with this, a search of eBird produced only 22 observations and only 5 with photos, all of which, however, appear to represent misidentified Arabian Wheatears. This reduces the total to 17 undocumented reports. Of these, just 4 were from 2017 to the present and none with supporting details. Two of those (2017, 2018) also reported Arabian Wheatear, suggesting the observers were aware of the taxonomic split but failed to indicate how they made the separation.
Pre-2017 records are more problematic. Seven originate from Arabian Wheatear’s range, four of which indicate two birds present, likely reflecting uncorrected pre-split entries. One additional record from slightly north of Arabian’s previously known range reported two birds and noted singing, again suggesting a pre-split Arabian pair rather than Mourning. The bulk of these earlier records trace back to a single observer with multiple pre-split reports.
Only two historical records fall outside Arabian’s known range and/or preferred habitat:
January 2005 – Three birds reported by Jens Eriksen in an open wadi of arid semi-desert northeast and well inland of Arabian Wheatear’s stronghold in southern Oman.
November 2009 – A single bird from Wadi Shab, southeast of Muscat, far enough north of Arabian’s range to rule out confusion.
Taken together, these observations indicate that while Mourning Wheatear has been reported from Oman and does indeed appear "rare", there are currently no documented and verified records in either eBird or any other publicly accessible database. Apparent misidentifications in eBird appear to stem both from observer error and the shifting taxonomic treatment of the complex.
The dearth of records of Mourning Wheatear in Oman is quite surprising actually, its official status notwithstanding. For comparison, in the UAE, where the species is also considered rare (UAE checklist 2010), there have been 260 eBird records, presumably O. lugens persica, a total of 51 of which have been supported with photo documentation. There have potentially been at least a dozen long-staying individuals, all well documented, from areas quite close to the Omani governates of Musandam, Al Buraimi, North Batinah, and Al Dhahirah since 2017. Given the frequency of observations in eastern UAE and the number of birders visiting northern Oman annually during the months when Mourning visits the wider region, it seems quite likely it has been overlooked and quite possibly, given the seven eBird records of Arabian Wheatear in northern Oman since 2017 as well, misidentified. For this reason, greater care should be taken in identifying Arabian/Mourning-type wheatears with photo documentation strongly encouraged.
Mourning Wheatear in Known and Potential Zones of Overlap in Southwestern Saudi Arabia
Along the Red Sea coast from Jeddah south to Jazan, a small number of eBird reports list Mourning Wheatear, but there have also been several reports of Arabian Wheatear. Some “Arabian” records along this stretch of coast have been proven to be Mourning based on photos, while others still lack documentation but are still likely misidentifications (see 1, 2) given the low coastal elevation, open semi-desert of the Tihamah, and winter timing, all of which favor Mourning. In short, confusion between Arabian and Mourning have already occurred in Saudi, and coastal records in winter warrant particular caution.
The wheatear above was reported at sea level from Al Wajh, Saudi Arabia, over 600 kilometers further north from the nearest confirmed record of Arabian Wheatear in the mountains northwest of Taif. Morphologically, this is a Mourning Wheatear, likely O. lugens lugens given the location. It's showing a slimmer build, more akin to Pied Wheatear, with black limited only to the throat, not extending onto the upper breast, and a bright crown extending diffusely down the nape.
This Mourning Wheatear, originally identified as such, was reported over 255 kilometers from the northernmost Arabian record. This bird was in an open wadi surrounded by barren mountains at around 400 meters.
This wheatear, originally identified as Arabian, was reported less than 140 kilometers from the northernmost Arabian record. This bird was at 1000 meters on an open sand-gravel plain near the Al Wahba Crater, well east of the northern edge of the Sarawat Range where Arabian Wheatear occurs.
This striking Mourning Wheatear was recorded at sea level just south of Jeddah, less than 120 kilometers west of an area in the highlands near Taif where Arabian Wheatear is common. To date, no confirmed Arabian Wheatears have been reported below 1000 meters in Saudi Arabia.
Here's an example of a more slightly ambiguous bird from the Asir Region. The elevation (almost 2200 meters), habitat (a rocky hillside with low, scattered trees on the outskirts of Abha, in the heart of the Arabian Wheatear's range in western Arabia), general thickset build, and less diffuse, more squared rear edge to the crown suggests this is a misidentified Arabian. To support the ID, however, the observer notes "The bird in flight has very pale windows in all primaries and secondaries. On the tail had the black band for the whole tail and an all white belly and rusty undertail. White is also going more far than in Arabian Wheatear". Given the key features described here can only be discerned on a flying bird, photo documentation in flight as well as from the side and front would help confirm the species.
Conclusion
Accurate identification of Mourning Wheatear and Arabian Wheatear in Arabia requires close attention to plumage, structure, behavior, and habitat. While subtle morphological differences are key, context such as elevation, habitat type, and social behavior can be just as important in separating the two. By documenting observations carefully—especially outside expected ranges and at lower elevations—visiting birders can both avoid misidentifications and contribute valuable data toward clarifying the seasonal movements and potential overlap of these closely related species. Birders are encouraged to support this effort by submitting photographs, sound recordings, and detailed notes to platforms such as eBird. In the event, the exact species cannot be determined, eBird users are encouraged to use Arabian/Mourning Wheatear (Oenanthe lugentoides/lugens) in their checklists.
References
Avibase – The World Bird Database. (2024). Oenanthe lugens / Oenanthe lugentoides taxonomy pages.
Birds of the Western Palearctic (BWP). NatureGuides Ltd. (2020–present). BWP [iOS/macOS app].
Birds of the World (BoTW). Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Accounts for Oenanthe lugens and Oenanthe lugentoides. Retrieved 2025.
Boland, C., & Suhaibany, A. (2020). Birds of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Aramco.
Clements, J. F., et al. (2024). The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2024. Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Eriksen, J. (2020). Oman Bird List, edition 7.10.
IOC World Bird List. (2024). International Ornithologists’ Union. Oenanthe lugens and Oenanthe lugentoides.
Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia (ABBA). Fauna of Arabia, Vol. 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, & Zoological Society of London.
Porter, R., Campbell, O., & Al-Sirhan, A. (2024). Birds of the Middle East (3rd ed.). Princeton Field Guides, Princeton University Press.
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