Topic summary
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 stonechatSaxicola torquatus in the strict sense
- European stonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Siberian stonechatSaxicola maurus
- Amur stonechatSaxicola stejnegeri
- Madagascar stonechatSaxicola 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 chatSaxicola dacotiae
- Reunion stonechatSaxicola tectes
- White-tailed stonechatSaxicola 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.