Northern Wheatear

(Oenanthe oenanthe)

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

Population size: 20 000 – 60 000 pairs

Distribution pattern

With widespread distribution almost throughout the territory of the country, more densely in Eastern and Southern Bulgaria, both in the mountains and in the plains. Absent or with more dispersed mainly in forest areas (Strandzha, Western Rhodopes, Ludogorie) and in areas predominating with agricultural crops (the Danubian plain, parts of the Thracian Plain, the Burgas lowland, 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 open stony landscapes, on cliffs, on exposed rocks and screes, often in a mixture with pastures in the lowlands or in meadows in mountain grasslands. It also breeds in hilly landscapes and coastal areas with stones and rocks, a combination of steep sea cliffs and rocky shores, and steppe and dry calcareous grasslands. Very often in stony wastelands, towns, villages and industrial zones, especially in construction sites and industrial zones, but also in abandoned quarries, single buildings, ruins, etc.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed