EMK

Mar 9 at MP

ajohn

It's a male Stonechat.

A species with complicated taxonomy that has changed it's name three times in Hong Kong this year! (Common, Siberian or Stejneger's)

EMK

Hi ajohn,

First of all, thank you very much for the identification. I would like to make sure my understanding is correct. Are Common, Siberian, Stejneger's three different kinds of Stonechat? or 3 are the same? Your clarification is highly appreciated.

Rgds
EMK

ajohn

As I said, it's complicated. All 3 names apply to the same birds in Hong Kong, where the taxon occurring is stejnegeri.

Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata stejnegeri was the official name until recently
When the records committee recently accepted the IOC list for HK, this was split and the form in HK is know as Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus stejnegeri.
IOC have now split this, so that the form in HK would be Stejneger's Stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri

But these are all just different names for the same thing!
I hope this helps

EMK

Hi ajohn,

Once again, many thanks for the detail explanation, very clear now.

Best regards,
EMK