Earnest lad
Well-known member
Please may I request advice. My knowledge of the Stonechat complex is very scant and I am trying to learn a little. The word complex does seem apt in this case, what with the different splits, subspecies, and so on - European, "eastern type", Amur Stonechat , etc etc etc.
Some time ago I took the attached photo (Lancashire, UK) as it was flying off. I managed to get the rump showing which, as seen, has distinct "spots" or "streaks" on it.
My question (for future reference) is : when a member of the Stonechat family is seen to have a spotted rump, is this entirely diagnostic of European Stonechat. (In other wordsany of the Eastern Stonechat types, Amur Stonechats, or others also sometimes have this. Or are those ones known to have plain rumps?
Many thanks in advance.
Some time ago I took the attached photo (Lancashire, UK) as it was flying off. I managed to get the rump showing which, as seen, has distinct "spots" or "streaks" on it.
My question (for future reference) is : when a member of the Stonechat family is seen to have a spotted rump, is this entirely diagnostic of European Stonechat. (In other wordsany of the Eastern Stonechat types, Amur Stonechats, or others also sometimes have this. Or are those ones known to have plain rumps?
Many thanks in advance.