| .יחרזמ לחוד(393 | ||||||||||
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.םידרפנ םינימ העבראל ןורג-רוחש לחוד לש םינימה תתל סחיתהל םיצילממ םישדח םירקחמ :יחרזמ לחוד | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
Oriental Group. S. m. maura N and E European USSR and S-E shore of Caspian Sea E to Lake Baykal, N-W Mongolia, Tien Shan, Kashmir, Afghanistan, and N-E Iran. S. m. stejnegeri E Siberia to E Mongolia, Manchuria, Korea, and Japan. Western Group. S. m. variegata steppes of lower Volgan and from mounth of Ural river S along W Caspian Sea to E Caucasus. S. m. armenica E Turkey, S and E Transcaucasia, N Iran, and S through Zagros mountains to Kerman. | ||||||||||
Descriptive notes.The Stonechat is a passerine with a wide distribution range. A new study, based on DNA sequencing techniques, suggested to divide the species into four separate species: Stonechat Saxicola torquata, Eastern Stonechat Saxicola maura, African Stonechat Saxicola axillaris and Reunion Stonechat Saxicola tectes. The Eastern Stonechat can be further separated into four subspecies, three of them have been observed in Israel.12-14 cm, 12-16 g, wingspan 16-20 cm. Close in size to Robin. It resembles the closely related Stonechat, but is typically paler, with a white rump and smaller orange breast. The summer male has black upperparts, usually lacking the brownish tones of Stonechat, a restricted orange throat and black head. It has white patches on the sides of its neck. The female has pale brown upperparts and head, and no white neck patches. The male has a clicking call like stones knocking together. The song is high and twittering like a Dunnock. Habitatbreeds in west Palearctic in middle and lower middle latitudes, in temperate, steppe, and Mediterranean zones, except for disjunct range of E race maura, which extends into boreal zone of north-west of the region.Absent from high-altitude mountainous regions in north of range, and from high forest, wetlands, and open expanses which are bare or have only sparse or low vegetation. Not affected by lack of standing or running water. Within these limitations, inhabits wide variety of dry plains and hillsides, often submarginal for agriculture, characterized by scattered bushes, shrubs, stones, walls, or fences, used as look-outs or song-posts commanding lower heathland, grassland, or bare patches.It breeds in open rough gorse, tussocks or heather. Food and FeedingInsectivorous.Small and medium-sized insects and other invertebrates. Locates terrestrial prey from elevated perch, then flies, glides, or hops to ground, picking prey up on landing or while standing on ground.Breeding.Mar-Jun in N-E Europe, mid Apr in S and C Europe, mid May in USSR. Nest site on or close to ground in dense vegetation, at base of bush, in tussock, or low down in thick scrub. Nest, loose, unwoven cup of dry grass stems and leaves, lined with hair and feathers sometimes with wool.4-6 eggs, sub-elliptical, smooth and moderately glossy, pale blue, variably marked with red-brown often very finely but sometimes more heavily and with cap round broad end. Incubation 13-14 days, by female only. Movements.Status and ConservationNot globally threatened.Israel.In Israel three subspeciesS. m. maura a rare migrant over most parts, in Eilat uncommon migrant and rare winter visitor. S. m. variegata a rare migrant. S. m. armenica a rare passage migrant, only in Eilat. |
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