Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas galactotes (Temminck, 1820) (2, 7)

Photo © Bryan Thomas

STATUS

Eurasia. Polytypic.

OVERVIEW

Six of the individuals occurred during autumn with two arriving in late summer (August). Three appeared in east coast counties, the rest on the south coast.

The Eastern forms C. g. syriaca/familiaris have a brown/grey mantle showing more contrast between there and the rump/tail area, also displaying a stronger head pattern with whiter supercilium.

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BBRC RECORDS

1). 1859 Devon Near Start Point, shot, 25th September, C. g. galactotes, now at Natural History Museum, Tring.

(G. R. Gray, Annals & Magazine of Natural History 4: 399-400; W. Llewellyn, Ibis 2: 103; Yarrell, 1871-85; Harting, 1875; D'Urban & Mathew, 1892; Witherby, 1920-24; Moore, 1969).

2). 1876 Devon Slapton, immature, shot, 12th October, C. g. galactotes.

(H. Nicholls, Zoologist 1876: 5179-5180; R. P. Nicholls, Field 28th Oct., 1876: 499; D'Urban & Mathew, 1892; Witherby, 1920-24; Moore, 1969).

3). 1951 Kent/Sussex The Wicks, 12th September.

(B. S. Milne, K. H. Palmer & E. J. Pilcher, British Birds 45: 329-330; Shrubb, 1979; James, 1996).

4). 1959 Devon Gammon Head, Chivelstone, 20th October.

(R. C. Stone & E. C. Still, British Birds 53: 225-226; G. A. Pyman and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 53: 425; S. G. Madge, Devon Bird-Watching and Preservation Society Report 1959: 47-48).

5). 1963 Lincolnshire Butlin's Holiday Camp, Skegness, adult male, 2nd to 9th September, trapped 4th September, photo.

(D. D. Harber and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 57: 273; F. J. Lambert, British Birds 58: 221-222; Birding World 4 (9): 316, photo).

6). 1972 Yorkshire Flamborough Head, 5th to 6th October.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 66: 346).

7). 1980 Devon Prawle Point, 9th August.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 75: 516).

8). 2020 Norfolk Stiffkey, 1CY, 17th to 21st October, photo, C. g. syriaca/familiaris.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 612, plate 420).

9). 2021 Cornwall Black Point, Treleaver, The Lizard, 2CY+, 22nd to 23rd August, photo, DNA analysis.

(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 115: 596, plate 453).