Vagrant to Jordan (P), Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Syrian Arab Republic (P), United Arab Emirates (NB).
South-eastern Turkey to south-western Iran, probably also extreme north-eastern Iraq; non-breeding eastern Egypt south to eastern Sudan and Eritrea, Arabian Peninsula and north-eastern Somalia.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 13,000 - 84,000 (2011).
Kurdish Wheatear (Oenanthe xanthoprymna) [XC346453]
by id from Nemrut Dagi, Turkey (alarm call)
Kurdish Wheatear (Oenanthe xanthoprymna) [XC163329]
by Tero Linjama from Nemrut Dagi, Turkey (song)
Subspecies
Oenanthe xanthoprymna (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Kurdish Wheatear (Oenanthe xanthoprymna) and Red-tailed Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia) following AERC TAC (2003).
Usually treated as conspecific with Red-tailed Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia), but they two differ considerably in plumage. They are claimed to intergrade in north-western Iran, with intermediates reported, having been named as subspecies cummingi. However, they may actually represent first-year plumage of present species, and no proof of intergradation has been put forward. Further study required.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
chrysopygia (de Filippi, 1863) - Armenia to central Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Red-tailed Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet