Size it up Q A

PIETER THERON from Fraserburg writes: I photographed this bird using a camera trap. The bird is bigger than a starling and smaller than a pigeon. I can’t find it in my guide – can you help?

Bird expert JOHAN VAN ROOYEN says: Noting a bird’s size is important, especially if you’re taking a photo for identification purposes, like Pieter did here. It’s a male mountain wheatear. Their colouring is variable, but the white rump, white shoulder and white outer tail feathers are characteristic. They can also have a white or grey crown.