Other Scientific Names
Saxicola torquata [BirdLife International (2004)], Saxicola torquata [Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994)], Saxicola torquata [Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993)], Saxicola torquata [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)]
Other Names (World)
Common Stonechat, Collared Stonechat, Collared Bush Chat, European Stonechat (hibernans, rubicola), African Stonechat (Afrotropical races), Ethiopian Stonechat (albofasciatus), Siberian Stonechat (maurus), Caspian Stonechat (variegatus)
Family
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers And Chats)
African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) [XC98912]
by Mike Nelson from Mount Oku, Bamenda Highlands, Cameroon (call)
African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) [XC518908]
by Frank Lambert from Sani Pass road mid section, Maloti-Drakensberg Park (near Mkhomazi Wilderness area), East Griqualand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (call)
Nest
A loose cup of dry stems and leaves, hidden near the ground, lined with hair, feathers and wool.
Eggs (Guide)
4 - 6; smooth, glossy, pale blue to greenish-blue, variably marked reddish.
It has been proposed to split the species into three distinct species: European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) (including subspeies hibernans), Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) (including variegatus, armenicus, indicus, przewalskii and vstejnegeri) and Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) (remaining subspecies).
Further splitting has been argued and more study is needed. Subspecies affiliation of population recently found breeding in north-western Thailand is unknown.
The following 26 subspecies are recognised:
hibernans (Linnaeus, 1766) - Ireland, Britain, western France and western Iberian coast. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola).
rubicola (Linnaeus, 1766) - From Denmark south-west to Spain and northern Morocco, east to Poland and Ukraine, and south-east to Turkey. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola).
variegatus (S. G. Gmelin, 1774) - Eastern Caucasus area east to lower R Ural and south to north-western Iran. Non-breeding north-eastern Africa. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus).
armenicus Stegmann, 1935 - South-eastern Turkey, Transcaucasia and south-western Iran. Non-breeding also south-western Asia and north-eastern Africa.
maurus (Pallas, 1773) - Eastern Caucasus, south-eastern Turkey and western Iran. central Siberia, central Asia, the Himalayas to western, central China;. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus).
stejnegeri (Parrot, 1908) - Eastern Siberia east to Anadyrland, south to eastern Mongolia, north-eastern China, Korea and Japan. Non-breeding eastern and south-eastern Asia (south to Malay Peninsula). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Stejneger's Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus).
indicus (Blyth, 1847) - North-western and central Himalayas. Non-breeding Pakistan and central India. See also Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus).
przewalskii (Pleske, 1889) - Tibetan Plateau east to central China, south to north-eastern Myanmar and Indochina. Non-breeding northern and north-eastern India east to south-eastern China and south-eastern Asia. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus).
moptanus Bates, 1932 - Senegal Delta and southern Mali (inner Niger Delta).
nebularum Bates, 1930 - Sierra Leone east to western Ivory Coast.
jebelmarrae Lynes, 1920 - Eastern Chad and western Sudan (Darfur).
salax (Verreaux, J & Verreaux, E, 1851) - Eastern Nigeria south to north-western Angola, including Bioko I (Fernando Po).
felix Bates, 1936 - South-western Saudi Arabia and western Yemen.
axillaris (Shelley, 1885) - Eastern DRCongo east to Kenya and northern and western Tanzania. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species African Stonechat (Saxicola axillaris). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, African Stonechat (Saxicola axillaris).
stonei Bowen, 1931 - South-western Tanzania south to southern and eastern Angola, north-eastern Namibia, Botswana and northern South Africa.
promiscuus Hartert, 1922 - Southern Tanzania south to eastern Zimbabwe and western Mozambique.
torquatus (Linnaeus, 1766) - South Africa (Northern Province south to south-western western Cape) and western Swaziland.
oreobates Clancey, 1956 - Lesotho Highlands.
clanceyi Courtenay-Latimer, 1961 - Coastal western Cape.
voeltzkowi Grote, 1926 - Grand Comoro (Njazidja), in Comoro Is.
sibilla (Linnaeus, 1766) - Madagascar (except northern massif and central area). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Madagascar Stonechat (Saxicola sibilla).
tsaratananae Milon, 1951 - Tsaratanana Massif, in northern Madagascar. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Madagascar Stonechat (Saxicola sibilla).
ankaratrae Salomonsen, 1934 - Ankaratra Massif and adjacent central part of western savannas, in central Madagascar. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Madagascar Stonechat (Saxicola sibilla).
adamauae Grote, 1922 - Highlands of northern and western Cameroon.
pallidigula Reichenow, 1892 - Cameroon Mt. and Bioko.
The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7
BirdLife International Species Factsheet