Northern Wheatear

Status Rare vagrant. The 12 records, some confirmed by photographs, are as follows: 16 August 1969 at Five Islands, Colchester County (W. and P. Hemeon); 11 August 1972 at Sydney (I. MacGregor); 19 September 1973 at Moser River, Halifax County (B. Sabean); 26 May 1975 on Sable Island (I.A. McLaren et al.); 26 September 1975 on Seal Island (several observers); 18-24 June 1977 on Sable Island (H. Ross); 17 September 1977 at Matthews Lake, Shelburne County (G. Perry and R. Turner); 25 September to 4 October, 1981 on Brier Island (several observers); 12 October 1982 at Argyle Head, Yarmouth County (C.R.K. Allen and P.R. Dobson); 23-25 May 1983 on Seal Island (several observers); 14 October 1983 on Seal Island (E. Cooke and S. Fullerton); and early October 1984 on Sable Island (E. Dobson).

Remarks This Eurasian species also breeds in arctic and subarctic Canada, from which it normally migrates to Europe. Breeding males are pale gray above and buff below, with a black mask, black wings, a white rump and a black tail with white basal patches. Females and winter males are dull brown above, with a white eye stripe, and buff below, but retain the white rump and black and white tail. It has been most often seen here along open shorelines, flitting from place to place, then pausing in upright posture with much "teetering," in the manner of a Spotted Sandpiper.