A wheatear that searches the ground for small prey in dry country. Males show clear black-and-white markings, while females are sandier.
Males have a black face and wings, with a white eyebrow and white on the shoulder. Females are sandier and lack the conspicuous black face.
The Desert Wheatear breeds in cold semi-desert and winters in hot, arid tropical regions. Its breeding range extends across North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia and the Tibetan Plateau. Dry areas of northern and western India also form part of its winter range, linking very different climates through its annual movement.
Bird Count India created a seasonal migration map from eBird observations submitted through 2025. An inset for India shows the seasonal share of eBird checklists that report the species. The map displays Desert Wheatear alongside the similar Pied Wheatear and separates their seasonal patterns, making India’s winter distribution easier to see.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Dry areas of northern and western India form part of the Desert Wheatear’s winter range. Bird Count India’s map shows seasonal eBird records and the share of Indian checklists reporting the bird. These regional and seasonal observations provide distribution information for planning conservation across its dryland range.