Common stonechat

Common stonechat is the name used for the Saxicola species Saxicola torquatus when this is treated in its broad sense.
It is, however, now more widely considered to be a superspecies consisting of several related but distinct species, which are outwardly fairly similar but genetically distinct and replacing each other geographically without significant hybridisation:
African stonechat Saxicola torquatus in the strict sense
European stonechat Saxicola rubicola
Siberian stonechat Saxicola maurus
Stejneger's stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri
Madagascan stonechat Saxicola sibilla
Three other species, not previously included within the broad view of common stonechat, have also been shown to be members of the superspecies:
Fuerteventura chat Saxicola dacotiae
Reunion stonechat Saxicola tectes
White-tailed stonechat Saxicola leucurus
Species status possible, but not yet verified:
Ethiopian stonechat Saxicola (torquatus) albofasciatus
Not all of the above are currently recognised as full species by all of the relevant taxonomical authorities, for example the British Ornithologists' Union, currently include stejnegeri as a subspecies of Saxicola maurus. [Wikipedia].
[photo© – Raju Karia].

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