Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus (prev. S. torquatus maurus)
The Siberian Stonechat is native to much of temperate Asia and far northeastern Europe. It winters further south.
Photos on this page were taken by Alexandra Makhnina in Kazakhstan.
Shown above (and top row) is a male in breeding plumage.
Shown above is a male in transition to winter plumage.
The Siberian Stonechat resembles a cross between the Whinchat (S. rubetra) and the European Stonechat
(S. rubicola, both this and the Siberian were until recently classed as subspecies of the African Stonechat,
S. torquatus).
The Siberian Stonechat can have a supercilium, but not as white as a Whinchat. The Whinchat also has a pale or white belly
and does not usually reach as far east as Kazakhstan. (However, the two can hybridise.)
The female (above) doesn't have the dark breeding plumage of the male. The male reverts to female-type plumage in winter.
Juvenile
Male and juvenile.
Links:
Eur. Stonechat
Whinchat (no link yet)