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.םירימזה םע תנמינ תינששחו הנטק רופצ :הזח לוחכ | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
L. s. svecica (ynonyms gaetkei, robusta. Scandinavia E through N Siberia to W Alaska, European USSR, to Okhotsk. L. s. namnetum W France. L. s. cyanecula C Europe from E-N France and Netherlands to Carpathian basin, N-W Ukraine, Smolensk, and Leningrad, also Spain. L. s. volgae C European USSR from N-E Ukraine to middle Volga river. L. s. pallidogularis(synonyms saturatior, altaica ) S-E European USSR S to Turkmeniya, E to foothills of Altai mountains. L. s. magna Caucasus, E Turkey and Iran. L. s. tianschanica Pamir and Tien Shan mountains. 3 furter races in C Asia and W Himalayas. | ||||||||||
Descriptive notes.14 cm, 15-17 g, wingspan 20-22 cm. Marginally smaller than Robin, with markedly slimmer form and poroportionately longer legs. Small, graceful, elegant chat, with noticeably erect carriage and characteristic cocking and fanning of tail.Bright chestnut patches at bases of outer tail-feathers diagnostic, rest of plumage essentially dark brown above, silky buff-white below with dusky flanks. Breeding male has blue throat, bordered below with black-white-chestnut bands, female has white throat and black-splashed necklace. Marked racial variation in tone of upperparts and color and shape of spot on male's throat. Flight like European Robin but ends in characteristic low sweep into cover. Sexes dissimilar marked seasonal variation in male's foreparts. HabitatBreeds from arctic and boreal upper latitudes to temperate and steppe middle latitudes and mountain regions, continental and mainly cool. Patchiness in south of range suggests approach to relict status. Best adapted to regions intermediate between forest and open plains or valleys, such as wooded tundra with marshy glades among spruce, dwarf willows, and junipers, woods of birch, and shrubby wetlands, ascending from sea-level to high Scandinavian fjells.Also on flood plains and banks of rivers and lakes in dense but low woody vegetation, sometimes with reeds and rushes or willows and alders. Food and FeedingLargely terrestrial invertebrates, mostly insects. In autumn, also some seeds and fruits.Feeds on ground, hopping, running briefly, and pausing, also takes items from low vegetation and will catch insects in the air. Searches for food by turning over leaves and soil. Adult catching caterpillar for its own consumption always shakes it to expel gut contents. Breeding.Late Apr in C Europe, late May in Scandinavia, Jun in Finland. Nest site on ground in dense vegetation, in tussock, under bush, or in hollow in low bank.Nest, cup of grass stems and leaves, with roots and moss, lined with hair and finer vegetation. Building by female only. 5-6 eggs, sub-elliptical, smooth but only slightly glossy, pale blue, green, or blue-green, finely marked red-brown, often indistinct, giving rusty tinge to shell, occasionally more heavily mottled. Incubation 13-14 days, usually by female, male helps occasionally. Movements.Mainly migratory, west Palearctic population having extensive wintering area extending from Mediterranean basin south to northern Afrotropics, and east to Indian subcontinent.Eastern races winter in Indian subcontinent and south-east Asia. Northern race, nominate, is found in winter throughout Mediterranean and over entire African winter range of the species. Racel. s. volgae, breeding C European USSR, winters in Middle East and Egypt. Caucasian and Iranian race magna has occurred in winter in Iraq, also a scarce passage migrant in Eritrea. Status and ConservationNot globally threatened.Israel.In Israel five subspecies L. s. volgae common migrant and winter visitor.L. s. pallidogularis quite common migrant and winter visitor. L. s. cyanecula quite common migrant and rare winter visitor. L. s. svecica scarce on migration and in winter. L. s. magna quite rare migrant. |
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