Possible Siberian Stonechat South Yorkshire (1 Viewer)

[tony.saw]

Last month, a possible Siberian Stonechat was reported on Totley Moor, near Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Is it possible to tell if any of the enclosed is a Siberian Stonechat. The first 2 are the same bird,the second 2 could be a different bird as it popped down behind a fence and Common Stonechats are in the area

 

[dwatsonbirder]

I think Maurus can be safely excluded here on the basis of the warm colured rump, whilst I think I'm correct in saying that stejnegeri wouldn't show such dark centres to the rump feathers - a flight shot showing the auxiliaries would be useful, but I'd be interested to hear why this isn't a standard rubicola.

I think all photos are of the same individual - the thick band on the outer edge of the bottom-most tertial and pale mark on the rear of the supercilium above the ear coverts look to be present in all shots.

 

[kuzeycem]

Just to add a little something: warm colored rumps aren't unusual for Siberian taxa during non-breeding, but they should be completely unmarked (except for Stejneger's, which is split now anyway)

 

[tony.saw]

Thanks for the replies. So, I assume that it cannot be said from these pictures that it is a Siberian Stonechat

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Thanks for the replies. So, I assume that it cannot be said from these pictures that it is a Siberian Stonechat

Correct - nothing to discount a pale rubicola.