Stierling's Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes stierlingi) [XC83583]
by Frank Lambert from near Choma, Zambia (song)
Stierling's Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes stierlingi) [XC338972]
by Peter Boesman from Jellis' Farm (Lazy J Ranch), Lusaka, Zambia (song)
Subspecies
Calamonastes simplex (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into simplex and undosa and both placed in the genus Camaroptera following Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993). Calamonastes stierlingi (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) is treated as a subspecies of Camaroptera undosa, also following Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993).
Forms a superspecies with Grey Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes simplex), Miombo Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes undosus) and Barred Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes fasciolatus). Sometimes considered conspecific with Grey Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes simplex) and Miombo Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes undosus). Has a narrow (15-20 km wide) zone of hybridization with Miombo Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes undosus) in central Zambia and northern Malawi, but quite distinct in plumage and songs (hybrids intermediate in appearance, may have intermediate songs). Geographical overlap locally with Barred Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes fasciolatus), but the two are segregated by habitat (no hybridization recorded).
Proposed subspecies buttoni (Zambia west of Luangwe Valley) synonymized with nominate.
Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Miombo Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes undosus).
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
stierlingi Reichenow, 1901 - South-eastern Tanzania, northern Mozambique, eastern Malawi and western and central Zambia. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Miombo Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes undosus).
irwini (Smithers & Paterson, 1956) - Extreme south-eastern Angola, extreme north-eastern Namibia and northern Botswana through southern Zambia and Zimbabwe plateau to western Malawi and north-western Mozambique. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Miombo Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes undosus).
olivascens (Clancey, 1969) - Central Mozambique. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Miombo Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes undosus).
pintoi (Irwin, 1960) - North-eastern South Africa, Swaziland and extreme southern Mozambique (south of R Limpopo). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Miombo Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes undosus).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet