Blackstart
A species of Wheatears Scientific name : Oenanthe melanura Genus : Wheatears
Blackstart, A species of Wheatears
Botanical name: Oenanthe melanura
Genus: Wheatears
Content
Description General Info
Photo By jeanpaulboerekamps , used under CC-BY-NC-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The blackstart is around 14 cm (5.5 in) in length with a wingspan of 23–27 cm (9.1–10.6 in) and a weight of around 15 g (0.53 oz). The nominate race O. m. melanura has blueish ash-grey upperparts with darker wings and a black rump and tail. The belly and under-wings are greyish white; the bill and legs are black. The sexes are similar. The North African subspecies O. m. lypura and O. m. airensis are browner than the nominate. 
Size
14 cm
Nest Placement
Ground
Feeding Habits
Blackstart primarily consumes adult insects, such as beetles and ants, caterpillars, and berries like Lycium shawii. It employs a perch-and-pounce method for foraging, gleans vegetation, and chases flying insects. Unique for its tail-fanning and wing-spreading after perching, blackstart forages with Sylvia warblers and is not shy.
Habitat
The blackstart predominantly inhabits arid regions, thriving in rocky hilly terrains that feature stony deserts, often dotted with acacia and tamarisk vegetation. This bird favors environments such as dry wadis, escarpments, ravines, and hillsides strewn with boulders, as well as sandstone scarps and sandy riverbeds. Additionally, blackstart is known to occupy stone constructions like houses, huts, and walls within these habitats. Despite the typically sparse vegetation, the species shows a preference for the shelter provided by thorny bushes within rocky ravines.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Distribution Area
In Egypt, the blackstart is common in the Sinai peninsula In Israel the species is primarily found in the Negev Desert, Arava Valley and Dead Sea areas; it is present in areas of the Jordan River valley further north, but is scarcer there. In Jordan, the species is only found in western parts of the country, in areas from the Jordan River valley south through the Dead Sea region to the Arava Valley and Aqaba Mountains.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Old world flycatchers Genus
Wheatears Species
Blackstart 
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