European Robin vs Basalt Wheatear

Erithacus rubecula compared with Oenanthe warriae

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute European Robin Basalt Wheatear
Scientific Name Erithacus rubecula Oenanthe warriae
Order Passeriformes Passeriformes
Family Muscicapidae Muscicapidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Not Evaluated
Length 14.0 cm (5.5 in)
Wingspan 21.0 cm (8.3 in)
Weight 18.0 g (0.63 oz)
Diet Insects, worms, and berries. Often follows gardeners and large animals to catch invertebrates disturbed from … --
Clutch Size 4-7 1-6
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
European Robin 14.0 cm
Basalt Wheatear
Wingspan
European Robin 21.0 cm
Basalt Wheatear
Weight
European Robin 18.0 g
Basalt Wheatear

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

European Robin only

Basalt Wheatear only

European Robin

Woodlands, hedgerows, parks, and gardens across Europe. Remarkably tame around humans, especially in Britain.

Song & Call Comparison

European Robin

Song

Exquisite, melancholic melody of thin whistled phrases, rising and falling softly. Rich, warbling song year-round; both sexes sing. Alarm call is a sharp 'tic-tic-tic'.

Basalt Wheatear

Geographic Range & Migration

European Robin

Europe, western Asia, and parts of North Africa. Northern populations migrate south in winter; western European populations are largely resident.

Basalt Wheatear

Conservation Status

Least Concern

European Robin

Not Evaluated

Basalt Wheatear

How to Tell Them Apart

European Robin

Plumage

Olive-brown upperparts with a warm orange-red breast and face bordered by grey. White belly and undertail coverts.

Bill

Thin, pointed dark brown bill

Basalt Wheatear

About These Birds

European Robin

The European robin is one of the most beloved birds in Britain, where it is the unofficial national bird. Despite its friendly demeanor toward humans, robins are fiercely territorial against their own kind, singing year-round to defend territory. Their distinctive song is one of the first to be heard at dawn.

Basalt Wheatear

The Basalt Wheatear is a wheatear of the family Muscicapidae recently described from the basalt desert regions of the Middle East. It inhabits open rocky terrain with sparse vegetation and perches prominently on stones and boulders. It catches insects by dropping to the ground from a perch in typical wheatear fashion.

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