A large, gray-backed wheatear of arid zones with a strong bill and short wings. Note pale-fringed wing feathers, broad tail with a dark brown terminal band, and pale cinnamon tail-base and lower rump. Male has a black face and throat and a darker gray back than the female who sports a cinnamon head. Nests in burrows in flat sandy or stony desert or semi-desert. Call is a dry “Prrt.” Song is a mix of deep flutelike notes and scratches.
Exotic species flags differentiate locally introduced species from native species.
Naturalized: Exotic population is self-sustaining, breeding in the wild, persisting for many years, and not maintained through ongoing releases (including vagrants from Naturalized populations). These count in official eBird totals and, where applicable, have been accepted by regional bird records committee(s).
Provisional: Either: 1) member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2) rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible. When applicable, eBird generally defers to bird records committees for records formally considered to be of "uncertain provenance". Provisional species count in official eBird totals.
Escapee: Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that have bred but don't yet fulfill the criteria for Provisional. Escapee exotics do not count in official eBird totals.