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Stonechat


Stonechat
Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2928 W: 107 N: 7443] (24125)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-18
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma 70-300 4-5.6 APO DG MACRO, 58mm UV
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-02-12 6:33
Viewed: 512
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Stonechat

Having no new pictures in hand, I have posted a picture of this bird from my archive. I shot it at my native place in the mountains of India.
My research leads me to believe that this bird resembles the European Stonechat quite a lot. Though I am not sure I should call it a Stonechat, still here is a note on Stonechat taken from Wikipedia:

The European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, family Muscicapidae. They, with similar small species in the family, are often called chats.

The European Stonechat is somewhat smaller than the European Robin. Both sexes have distinctively short wings, shorter than those of the more migratory Whinchat and Siberian Stonechat. The summer male rubicola has black upperparts, a black head, an orange throat and breast, and a white belly and vent. It also has white patches on the sides of its neck, a small white scapular patch on the wings, and a very small white patch on the rump often streaked with black. The female has paler brown upperparts and head, and no white neck patches, rump or belly, these areas being streaked dark brown on paler brown, the only white being the scapular patch on the wings and even this often being buffy-white.

European Stonechats breed in heathland, coastal dunes and rough grassland with scattered small shrubs and bramble, open gorse, tussocks or heather. They are non-migratory or short-distance migrants, with part of the population moving south to winter further south in Europe and more widely in north Africa.

The male has a clicking call like stones knocking together, for which it was named. The song is high and twittering like a Dunnock.

Two doubtfully distinct subspecies are accepted: the Central European Stonechat S. r. rubicola in the south and east of its range, and the Western European Stonechat of western and NW Europe, notably the Atlantic coastal areas, S. r. hibernans. They are hardly different in appearance, but nDNA microsatellite fingerprinting reveals some degree of separation (Wink et al. 2002). Together, these two races are found throughout western, central and southern Europe, the extreme northwest of Africa and western Turkey.

It is closely related to some species, several of which look also much alike to it:

Siberian Stonechat, Saxicola maura
African Stonechat, Saxicola torquata
Réunion Stonechat, Saxicola tectes
Fuerteventura Chat, Saxicola dacotiae

In the past, these were generally considered conspecific with the European Stonechat; especially the first two and the present species were long lumped together as "Common Stonechat" (S. torquata). A new review adding mtDNA cytochrome b sequence and nuclear DNA microsatellite fingerprinting evidence (Urquhart & Bowley 2002, Wink et al. 2002) strongly supports their separation into distinct species. Note that molecular data was not acquired from Saxicola torquata torquata specimens but from S. t. axillaris; for a short time, the name S. torquata was thus erroneously used for the European Stonechat.

Together with the Siberian and Fuerteventura species, it constitutes eastern and western representatives of a Eurasian lineage; the Asian and European populations separated during the Late Pliocene or Early Pleistocene, roughly 1.5-2.5 mya, and Fuerteventura was colonized by Western European of NW African birds somewhat later in the Early Pleistocene, about 1-2 mya (Wink et al. 2002).

BTW, could it be a Siberian Stonechat migrated to and settled in India? Some expert advice is needed here.
I lost the exif data during clean-up operations.

TFL
eqshannon, Argus, MMM, Alex99, matatur, rcrick, mariki, jusninasirun, uleko, shal has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

What I first notice is teh claws and how they almost contort to grasp the perch. Usually I think of birds claws or feet as being rather stiff due to appearance, but in your image you show how flexible they are. More than likely not as common a bird as sparrows or such..and on the small side which makes you frame ideal.
bob

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2500 W: 132 N: 7109] (22209)
  • [2008-02-12 7:42]

Hello Ram.
Though this male has rather dishevelled plumage it is a fine sharp capture of the Eastern race maura of the European Stonechat.
The pose, POV and compostion are excellent and show this individual off in the best way.
Thanks for sharing this one,
All the best,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 737 W: 0 N: 1497] (6754)
  • [2008-02-12 7:57]

Hi Ram
Nice presentation.Good POV and lovely pose.I like the nice OOF BG.Excellent text also.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2991 W: 148 N: 4435] (14369)
  • [2008-02-12 10:27]

Hi Ram.
So impressive place where you have captured this cute bird. I like similar coloration of the BG and bird, excellent selected DOF and blameless framing and composition of the picture. Lighting and exposure are excellent as well as the details of the bird image. But key point of the shot, I think, it is a nice mood and feelings which are created with help of the image. Thanks and kind regards.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 937 W: 5 N: 2456] (9197)
  • [2008-02-12 13:08]

HI Ram,the pic have fantastic colours and very interesting note,have a nice day,Luciano

Really, you are a man of diverse interests Ram, now, a cute bird against a harsh, rocky BG, what else next, I wonder! But whatever you do, you do it in great style man, TFS indeed!
Yours,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 588 W: 40 N: 1066] (3452)
  • [2008-02-12 14:26]

Hi Ram,
Lovely shot of this little Stonechat, POV and framing are very good, does appear to be a little soft, but a great capture all the same, love the OOF BG works well, all the best Cheers Rick :)

Hello Ram,

Nice composition. Very nice light and colours.
Cheers,

Mariki

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 847 W: 4 N: 2096] (9830)
  • [2008-02-13 8:27]

Ram Sir, Very detailed note and good one you produced from your archive. Ganesh

Hello Ram,

Nicely perched bird exposing superb sharpness in well managed depth. The framing is pleasant and tastefully done.

Well done and thanks for sharing.

Regards,
Jusni

Hi Mr. Ram,
A nice capture of this beautiful stone chat bird. Very good details and a nice composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Sincerely
HP

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2381 W: 164 N: 7153] (22602)
  • [2008-02-17 3:57]

Hello Ram,
Lovely capture of this Stonechat in bright sunshine and against a fine stone background.
Nice catchlight in the eye and beautiful plumage. Very well composed too.
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • shal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 287 W: 71 N: 499] (2086)
  • [2008-02-20 20:18]

Hi Ram,
nice compo. with well saturated colours,
was this a challange to photograph? Looks to be at quite a distance with a good enough crop.

Cheers :D
Shal

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