Description:

Large wheatear, having extensive white rump and outer tail bases. All-black head and largely white underparts. From Variable by stockier appearance and domed head, larger bill, glossy sheen to black of plumage, black of throat not extending so far down on breast, and white of rump extending farther up lower back.

Distribution:

Common resident in the central parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, from Ghizer to Shigar. Prefers rocky desert mountainsides, steep valleys and foothill slopes with boulders and rubble with scanty vegetation or scattered shrubs; usually below 2300m.

Behavior:

Forages over open ground, using bound-and-grab method; also uses perch-and-pounce from elevated perch, and sometimes sallies in air. Feeds on small insects, notably ants, small beetles, flies and small grasshoppers, also larger insects, occasionally small lizards; and seeds, fruit and berries.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Hume's Wheatear in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Hume's Wheatear

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.