This species inhabits high moorland districts where rocks and solitude are the most striking features of the landscape, but it is a mistake to say that the cultivation of land banishes it, for I have met with it breeding on ploughed land in the Highlands, Hebrides, and Shetlands quite commonly.
MALE WHEATEAR BRINGING
FOOD FOR YOUNG.
The nest is situated under loose slabs of rock, in holes in rough, dry stone walls, peat stacks, and rocky banks. I have met with it on two or three occasions in the old nesting burrows of rabbits. It is made of dead grass, rootlets, and moss, with an inner lining of hair, feathers, and rabbits’ down.
The eggs generally number five or six, of a pale greenish-blue, occasionally spotted on the larger end with rusty red.
This species practises a short and somewhat pretty, but not very loud, song, which is enhanced in value by the weird solitude of the vocalist’s surroundings. It is frequently uttered whilst the bird is on the wing going through aërial antics, often highly suggestive of dementia.
The call note of the species may be imitated by beating two pebbles together, and sounds like chick, chack, chack.
YOUNG WHEATEARS
WAITING FOR FOOD.