Amur Stonechat
Saxicola stejnegeri
A chunky little bird found in a wide variety of open landscapes, often sitting on exposed perches. Breeding male has a black head, a broad white half-collar, mostly rusty-red underparts, and a white undertail and rump. Non-breeding male is patchier, with a paler head and chest. Female is predominantly streaky brown above and pale below, with a small white patch on the wing but no strongly contrasting pattern on the face. Siberian Stonechat is extremely similar, and in areas of overlap, or in cases of vagrancy, most individuals are inseparable based on current knowledge. Amur Stonechat typically shows slightly less white on the rump.
Taxonomy
Amur stonechat was generally considered a subspecies of either common stonechat (as Saxicola torquatus stejnegeri) or Siberian stonechat (as Saxicola maurus stejnegeri,), but recent genetic evidence has shown that it is distinct, in a basal position in the common stonechat superspecies; on which basis it is now accepted as a distinct species.<p>The Latin binomial commemorates the Norwegian ornithologist Leonhard Hess Stejneger.
- Scientific name
- Saxicola stejnegeri
- Authority
- (Parrot, 1908)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Saxicola
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PAL : e Siberia and e Mongolia to Korea and Japan.
- Non-breeding range
- se Asia
Photos
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Great Indian Bustard
Ardeotis nigriceps
Immense and stately ground-dwelling bird of expansive grasslands; also found more infrequently in other open grassy habitats such as semi-desert and lightly worked fields. Brown-winged and pale-necked, with a dark cap; male has whiter neck than female. Often found in small flocks when not breeding. Unfortunately, critically endangered and declining throughout range.
Spot-breasted Laughingthrush
Garrulax merulinus
Dark brown with long black streaks down its throat, this laughingthrush gives the impression of a large, blown-up bush warbler. Like many other laughingthrushes, skulks deep in shrubby undergrowth both within forests and at forest edges. Makes up for its unassuming appearance with a beautiful and lengthy song of musical notes. Not as social as some other laughingthrushes, typically moving singly, in pairs, or at most in small flocks.
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift
Panyptila cayennensis
Small, fast-flying swift of humid tropical lowlands. Usually seen in pairs flying low over the forest canopy, but also ranges out over adjacent open areas, lakes, and rivers. Often in loose association with other small swifts, especially Vaux’s. Note the very narrow wings and long swallow tail, which is usually held closed in a long fine point rather than being spread to show the fork. The small size and bright white throat that contrasts with the black cap and body are distinctive.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.