Black-eared Wheatear – Oenanthe hispanica – Traquet oreillard

The Black-eared Wheatear winters in Africa, south of the Sahara.
It breeds in Spain and in southern Europe.
This species frequents the open areas with rocks, bushes and scattered trees.
The nest is made with stems, moss and plant fibres, and lined with hair or down.
It is placed on the ground, sheltered under stones, rocky overhang, in tussocks, burrows and holes.
Numerous thin twigs are placed at the entrance and around the nest.
This bird is often seen singing from exposed perch above the bushes.

This species occurs as two morphs:
One with narrow black mask and pale throat as on these pictures, and the other with black face and throat.