Black Wheatear Patara (1 Viewer)

[salopbirder]

Has anyone else seen a Black Wheatear in Turkey before as I had a nailed on identification until I saw Distribution Maps? Most say Spain and north-west Africa but I have seen one (xeno canto) which says they are present in Greece.
Of course, I didn't have my camera with me as it was an impromptu visit but will return in the next couple of days to look again, with my camera.

 

[John Cantelo]

Assuming a melanistic bird of some sort can be ruled out then whatever the bird was it would be a vagrant to the area. The 'Birds of Greece' (1997) says that there is a record on a pair of Black Wheatears from Milos (1989), one from Crete (1958) and another from Spili (1964) but adds that the records are more likely to refer to White-crowned Black Wheatear. This species as once been reported from Crete (although there may have been more records since the book was published). White-crowned Black is found rather closer to Turkey than Black and has, I think, a better track record for vagrancy. The only other confusion species in the wider region would seem to be Basalt Wheatear which has a restricted range and would be unlikely in the extreme.

 

[salopbirder]

My first thought was melanism but the tail, rump and hind belly were pristine white, which ruled that out in my mind. I did also think Basalt but ruled that out due to the range as you mentioned. Having looked at White-crowned Wheatear again, it is possible that it was a juvenile. I'm hoping it is there tomorrow morning again but not sure how I would differentiate the options in the field. I'll do some more research this evening I guess...

 

[jogresh]

Yes I guess juv WCW would be the most likely option - check the tail pattern if you see it again. I think there's been 1 recent record of Basalt Wheatear IIRC. Black Wheatear is way out of range for a fairly sedentary species. I seem to recall that a lot of extra-limital records of BW from the Levant/NE Africa etc were scrapped a few years ago. Hope you see it again - whereabouts was it?

 

[salopbirder]

It was at Patara ruins, I revisited the site for a couple of hours this morning but no joy with relocation unfortunately. I've had contact with a couple of Turkish birdwatchers and they are convinced it would have been WCW as well, not Black Wheatear.

 

[jogresh]

It was at Patara ruins.

Ah yes course, not sure how I missed that in the title. Just looked on Google maps - south coast with no land between there and Egypt.
I think WCW are early breeders too, so juveniles could be dispersing by now.