You don"t need to be a bird expert to notice the wheatear darting across open ground. These ground-dwelling songbirds belong to the Oenanthe genus and are known for their upright posture and habit of hopping or sprinting between perches. Despite the name, wheatears have nothing to do with wheat or ears—the name is a twist on the old phrase "white arse," pointing to the bird"s distinctive white rump found in most species.
Wheatear, Peak District National Park, England
Today in History
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A temple to treasure
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Great white egret, Upper Bavaria, Germany
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The Coast of Death
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Corfu at night, Greece
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Happy winter solstice!
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Protecting the gentle giants
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International Literacy Day
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Red kite in snow
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The other continent down under
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Oktoberfest begins!
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Caribbean flamingos, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
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International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend
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Hop into Lunar New Year
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The worlds most exclusive beach?
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Dunquin Pier, County Kerry, Ireland
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Angry bird, doting dad
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Where are these illuminated walkways?
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Sundance Film Festival
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Autumn equinox
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A galaxy full of stars
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Prasat Phanom Rung temple ruins, Thailand
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International Museum Day
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Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, United States
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Val di Funes, Italy
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Lake Ontario, Toronto, during winter
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If given Menton, make lemonade
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International Day for Biological Diversity
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A shiver of sharks on the hunt
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A bevy of buzzers
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Napping near the North Pole
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

