Thrushes (Turdidae)

Rusty-tailed Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia) - HBW 10, p. 802

French: Traquet à queue rousse German: Kaukasussteinschmätzer Spanish: Collalba Afgana
Other common names: Red-tailed/Rufous-tailed/Rufous-rumped/Afghan Wheatear

Taxonomy: Dromolaea chrysopygia de Filippi, 1863, Demavend, north-central Iran.
Usually treated as conspecific with O. xanthoprymna, but the two differ considerably in plumage; they are claimed to intergrade in NW Iran, with intermediates reported, having been named as race cummingi; however, latter form may actually represent first-year plumage of present species, and no proof of intergradation has been put forward; further study required. ­Birds breeding from Afghanistan to Pamirs have been separated as race kingi, on grounds of slightly paler plumage, but differences very minor, not warranting recognition. Monotypic.

Distribution: NE Turkey, Armenia and N Iran E to S Tadjikistan (Pamir range), Afghanistan and extreme W Pakistan; non-breeding Arabian Peninsula, S Iraq, S Iran, E Afghanistan, Pakistan and NW India.