Scientific name:
Oenanthe

Natural spread:
Europe, Asia, Africa

in the group of the Schmätzer (Schwarzkehlchen) is the Steinschmätzer the species-richest group, that is spread until on one type, the Steinschmätzer (Oenanthe oenanthe), only in the old world.

Shape The small throttles of 12-18 cm of length usually whitened a notably white Bürzel and one at the reason, in the middle and on the end black tail. While the males of the individual types are to be distinguished usually very well above all in the brood-dress, this falls very much more heavily with the females; very similarly, however both sexes of the Isabell-Steinschmätzers (Oe) are colored. isabellina. With many types, geographical races developed, with which the plumage-coloring can vary in several characteristics, so that one is dependent on particular regulation-books for the type-regulation.

Habitat The preferred habitats of the ground-living in Steinschmätzer are open landscapes, usually dry and vegetation-poor, stony hillsides or semi-deserts. Z is as distinct rock-loving type. B. the Trauersteinschmätzer (Oe). leucura, but, to find also in the cliffs of the Mediterranean-coasts. At the ground, the birds look for insects and other small invertebrates; only occasionally it could be observed that they make also hunt for flying insects.

Usual Steinschmätzer The Steinschmätzer (Oe). oenanthe, probably settled in Greenland and North-Canada only after the last ice age from Eurasia from. The still today hit Zugwege speak in behalf of it as far as into the hibernation-areas in the tropical Africa. In the Mediterranean-area, it lives also over whole Europe, type spread in zwischenartlicher competition with the Mittelmeersteinschmätzer (Oe). hispanica, and in central-Asia with the Isabell-Steinschmätzer.

Reproduction In March, the first Steinschmätzer arrive on its Nistplätzen. Immediately, they begin its showy Bodenbalz. Then, males and females face themselves in a flat hollow, and the male begins to dance. With ruffled feathers, it jumps into the air, jumps from an edge of the hollow to the other in order to drop itself finally flat with spread wings and fanned out tail before the female. Here, a Singflug joins, with what the bird can stand buzzing in the air. The chant is short and chopped off, as we find it with many Schmätzern.

With the nest-construction, the female is predominant busy, however, the male can help with it. So, one loosely built pile is built camouflaged occasionally well in an earth or rock-cave from grass, moss and other plant-sharing. After the flat inner bowl with hair, wool and feathers was padded, the female puts 5-6 eggs, that it incubates mainly alone. After 14 days, the boys slip; care is taken of them by both alto-birds and can leave the nest after 15 days.

Endangering The Steinschmätzer is on the red list of the endangered types with us.