Hooded Wheatear

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A beautiful bird species belonging to the genus Oenanthe of the family Muscicapidae. It inhabits desert areas among scattered shrubs and locations with wells, sparse vegetation, and rocky slopes. It feeds on insects and seeds of desert plants and is considered a valuable bird in the wilderness . These birds are found in the Jerusalem wilderness, the Kidron Valley, and the Beqaa Plain.

Its length reaches about 17 cm. The male's plumage is black, extending from the beak through the eyes to the throat, chest, back, and wings. The tail is white with a central band of black feathers and edged at the end.

The female has sandy brown plumage on the back, with dark brown wings and central tail feathers. The central part of the tail is covered with a yellowish-orange color, while the underside is a lighter yellowish-orange.

The picture is from the Kidron Valley.