Black-eared Wheatear

(Oenanthe hispanica)

Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern

Population size: 2000 – 4000 pairs

Distribution pattern

With patchy and dispersed distribution throughout the country, but mainly in Southern Bulgaria. Most compact in the Eastern Rhodopes, Sakar, the valley of the Struma River and some of its neighbouring mountains, the Sliven valley and adjacent areas, the Black Sea coast between Balchik and Tyulenovo and between Cape Emine and Burgas, the Besaparski hills and foothills of the Western Rhodopes. Dispersed in the Danubian Plain, the Thracian Plain, Sredna Gora, the Sofia Field, etc.

Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.

Habitats

Breeds on exposed rocky slopes with inland cliffs and exposed rocks, on screes and other stony landscapes, quarries, ruins, etc., usually near dry siliceous grasslands and sclerophyllous scrub. Along the Black Sea coast – and on steep sea cliffs and rocky shores in the proximity of steppes and dry calcareous grasslands.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed