Siberian Stonechat
Saxicola maurus (Pallas, 1773) (1, 17)
Photo © Mike Barth
STATUS
Eurasia: Eastern edge of European Russia east to Lake Baikal and south to Afghanistan and north-west Mongolia. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
It was treated as a race of Common Stonechat S. torquatus until 2011, when further taxonomic changes led to the splitting of Siberian Stonechat S. maurus and S. stejnegeri into full species by adopting the IOC World Bird List in January 2018.
A review of former records has led to the following records meeting the current criteria of this species. DNA analysis required for record acceptance.
Pale and frosty looking appears to be a starting point for identification.
BBRC RECORDS
1). 1913 Fife Isle of May, female, obtained, 10th October, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1913.239.2).
(E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 33: 273; Eds., British Birds 7: 271; Witherby, 1920-24; Rintoul & Baxter, 1935; N. F. Ticehurst, Ibis 80: 338-341; BOURC (1939), Ibis 81: 332; I. S. Robertson, British Birds 70: 237-245; J. M. Collinson & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 105: 318-321, plates 182-184; BOURC (2013), Ibis 155: 205).
2). 2015 Suffolk Orfordness, 1CY, female, trapped, 10th October, photo, DNA analysis, S. m. maurus.
(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 109: 617; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 607; British Birds 112: plate 289).
3). 2016 Fair Isle South Harbour, 1CY, female, trapped, 16th to 30th October, photo, DNA analysis, S. m. maurus.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 614; British Birds 112: plates 290 & 291).
4). 2017 Shetland Sandwick, Mainland, 1CY, male, 8th to 22nd October, photo, DNA analysis, S. m. maurus.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 607).
5). 2017 Kent Halstow Marsh, 1CY, male, 19th November to 3rd December, photo, DNA analysis, S. m. maurus.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 607; British Birds 112: plate 292).
6). 2018 Shetland Scalloway, Mainland, 1CY, female, 24th to 27th October, photo, DNA analysis.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 112: 608, plate 293).
7). 2019 Shetland Brake, Mainland, 1CY, 28th September to 7th October, photo, DNA analysis, S. m. maurus.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 636).
8). 2019 Yorkshire Kilnsea, 1CY, 6th to 7th October, photo, DNA analysis, S. m. maurus.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 636; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 614).
9). 2019 Suffolk Hollesley Marshes RSPB, 1CY, 1st December to 5th January 2020, photo, DNA analysis, S. m. maurus.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 636, plate 386; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 614).
10). 2019 Cheshire & Wirral Ashton's Flash, Northwich, 1CY, 24th December to 10th April 2020, photo, DNA analysis, S. m. maurus.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 636; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 613; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 115: 600).
11). 2020 Cleveland South Gare, 1CY+, 24th to 28th September. photo, DNA analysis.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 613).
12). 2020 Fair Isle Lower Leogh, Midway and Boini Mire, 1CY, male, 10th October, photo, DNA analysis, S. m. maurus.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 613).
13). 2020 Isles of Scilly Gugh, 1CY, female, 16th to 20th October, photo, DNA analysis.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 614, plate 422).
14). 2021 Shetland Camb, Yell, 1CY+, male, 1st to 13th November, photo, DNA analysis, S. m. maurus.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 115: 600).
15). 2022 Shetland Quendale, Mainland, 29th September to 21st October, photo.
(BBRC).
16). 2022 Northumberland Budle, male, 27th to 31st October, photo.
(BBRC).
17). 2022 Shetland Camb, Yell, 1st to 13th November, photo.
(BBRC).
18). 2023 Shetland Spiggie, 31st October.
(BBRC - Web-WIP-11-3-24).
