Birds Guide

Stonechats
European Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae   Genus: Saxicola Bechstein, 1802
Species
See text.

The genus Saxicola, the stonechats or chats, is a genus of 14 species of small passerine birds restricted to the Old World. They are insectivores of open scrubland and grassland with scattered small shrubs.

Genetic evidence presented in the recent monograph by Urquhart & Bowley 2002 strongly supports the splitting of the Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquata sensu lato) into three species, African Stonechat (S. torquata), European Stonechat (S. rubicola) and Asian Stonechat (S. maura). This treatment is likely to become standard in the future.

Species list, following Urquhart & Bowley 2002:

• Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
  Stoliczka's Bushchat or White-browed Bushchat, Saxicola macrorhyncha
  Hodgson's Bushchat or White-throated Bushchat, Saxicola insignis
  Fuerteventura Chat or Canary Island Stonechat, Saxicola dacotiae
  European Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola (previously S. torquata rubicola)
  Siberian Stonechat or Asian Stonechat, Saxicola maura (previously S. torquata maura)
  African Stonechat, Saxicola torquata
  Reunion Stonechat, Saxicola tectes
  White-tailed Stonechat, Saxicola leucura
  Pied Bushchat, Saxicola caprata
  Jerdon's Bushchat, Saxicola jerdoni
  Grey Bushchat, Saxicola ferrea
  White-bellied Bushchat or Timor Bushchat, Saxicola gutturalis
  Buff-streaked Bushchat, Saxicola bifasciata

Reference

• Urquhart, E. & Bowley, A. 2002. Stonechats. A Guide to the Genus Saxicola. Helm. ISBN 0-7136-6024-4

Gallery

European Stonechat

Stoliczka's Bushchat