ML434600681

觀察細節

ID of these birds as African vs migrant Siberian initially presumed; male very close to Siberian, as was one very pale female seen well - seemingly indistinguishable from Siberian. Not clear if these birds were breeding locally as no singing heard in middle of the day, so in theory some, even all could be migrant Siberians. However, males extremely close to males seen singing in juniper forests and upland fields elsewhere eg near Abha, which were presumed to be African. Edit - following a further trip to SW KSA in August 2022, and discussions with Greg Askew (April 2024) I have adjust this record to Saxicola sp (as African/Siberian Stonechat is not an eBird option). Female African Stonechat seem to resemble female European, rather than Siberian a lot of the time, and the habitat, primary projection and, perhaps, the rather slim, smaller headed and longer-bodied shape of these birds might also hint more to Siberian than African.