14/12/2007 at Sulaibiya Pivot Fields

1 European Stonechat, 1 Siberian Stonechat of variegatus ssp.

The Siberian Stonechat ssp. variegatus has arrived to its wintering ground, this species has more distinct white in its tail. Siberian Stonechat are structurally different from the European being longer winged, slimmer bodied. When compared with European, it has the structure of a Wheatear with shorter bill, whereas the European has a structure of Chiffchaff or a desert Warbler, being short bodied and short necked and compact.

The Siberian Stonechat ssp. variegatus.

Note: also the ssp. variegatus has a tail similar to a Wheatear tail.