Wheatear Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)

Wheatears are summer visitors to the UK and can be seen from around mid March through to October. Roughly the same size as a robin, the wheatear can be identified by their characteristic tail pattern which looks like a black “T” on a white rump.

In fact that’s how the wheatear got its name. It is a colloquial term meaning “white arse”. The male wheatear has a blue-grey back and head, black wings and cheeks with white eye stripes (supercilium) and pale orange chests. Females are a more browner colour and juvenile wheatears are speckled.

To find out more about these fascinating passerines, keep reading.

How Long Does A Wheatear Live?

The typical lifespan of a wheatear is around 2 years, reaching sexual maturity at 1 year. The oldest recorded wheatear reached an age of 8 years and 3 months according to ring records.

Their relatively short lifespan is attributed to the amount of distance these small birds fly during their migratory journeys. They breed mainly in western and northern Britain and western Ireland although small numbers do breed in southern and eastern England. 

How Fast Can A Wheatear Fly?

Wheatears travel all the way to Africa to overwinter. With many wheatears only passing through the UK as “passage” birds, these remarkable birds travel from as far away as Alaska all the way down to Africa and back again the following year. 

During these epic migratory journeys the wheatear reaches speeds of around 29 mph (47 km/h) and they manage to fly for an average of 18 hours every day!

Are Wheatears Aggressive?

Wheatears are generally a peaceful bird focussing most of their energy on either foraging for food or embarking on their long migratory journey. Having said that, like most birds, male wheatears can exhibit aggressive behaviour towards other males while defending their territory and nesting sites.

Their aggression is typically expressed through physical displays and vocal phrases and only rarely result in actual physical violence.

What Is A Wheatear’s Habitat?

Wheatears prefer open country and wilder places as opposed to urban landscapes. They can typically be spotted in uplands, farmland and grasslands. As well as heathlands, moorlands and coastal wetlands.

You’re most likely to spot wheatears in open upland habitats in Scotland, north and south west England and Wales during the breeding season and along coastal and other areas during their migratory flights.

How Long Does It Take For A Wheatear To Build A Nest?

The nest building process of the wheatear can take anywhere between 7 to 14 days. It all depends on the availability of nesting materials and finding a suitable nesting site. The environmental conditions also play a part in the time taken to build a nest.

Both the male and female select the nesting site although as with many birds, it’s the female that makes the final decision. They will use  crevices in rocks, walls, rabbit burrows or other similarly sheltered locations.

Once the site has been selected, it’s the female that is the primary nest builder. She will use grass, moss, twigs and other plant materials which are then lined with feathers, wool or fur to provide a comfortable environment for the eggs and chicks.

Eggs

Once the nest has been completed to the exacting standards of the female, she will lay her eggs and start the incubation process.

When Do Wheatears Lay Eggs?

Wheatears typically lay their eggs from around the end of April through to mid June. The average laying period is around early to mid May and depends on climatic and environmental conditions.

If the eggs are laid early enough it is possible for the pair to raise 2 or even 3 broods in the same season depending on the health of the female.

How Many Eggs Does A Wheatear Lay?

The female will usually lay between 5 to 6 eggs but can lay anywhere between 2 to 8 eggs. She will incubate the eggs almost always on her own although the male sometimes takes over for short periods of time.

What Do Wheatear Eggs Look Like?

Wheatear eggs are oval shaped and a pale blue colour with a few reddish-brown marks at the larger end. They are smooth but not glossy and are around 21 x 16 mm in size weighing around 2.7 grams.

How Long Do Wheatear Eggs Take To Hatch?

The eggs are incubated almost entirely by the female although the male will be on hand to provide her with food and take over incubation duties occasionally. They take around 2 weeks to hatch typically anywhere between 12 to 15 days with 14 days being the average hatching time.

Chicks

Once the eggs hatch, the life cycle of the wheatear moves onto the next stage of development, the chicks.

How Many Chicks Does A Wheatear Have?

The survival rate of eggs to chicks in wheatears is around 80 to 90% which means from a clutch of 6 eggs 4 or 5 are likely to be fertile and develop to the hatching stage. The average chick count for wheatears is around 3 to 5.

The same pair will often go on to raise another brood in the same year with some managing to raise a total of 3 broods.

When Do Wheatear Chicks Open Their Eyes?

Wheatear chicks are altricial which means they are born without any down and with their eyes closed. The chicks are totally dependent on their parents for food, heat regulation and protection and typically open their eyes around 6 to 7 days after hatching.

During their first week, they are fed by both parents with protein rich foods that help the chicks develop. Once their eyes are opened they become more aware of their surroundings and start to become more adventurous and develop muscles and flight feathers.

When Do Wheatear Chicks Fledge?

Wheatear chicks are around 15 to 16 days old when they fledge the nest. Although they stay with their parents for another 2 weeks or so after fledging. Their parents show them how and where to find food, avoid predators and other necessary survival skills. 

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Frequently Asked Questions