[jc122463]

Hello,
Does anyone know how to differentiate between African Scrub-Robin (Cercotrichas minor) and Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin (Cercotrichas galactotes). All the African books I have lump these two species together. I understand that galactotes is a migrant while minor is a resident, but wonder if anyone knows field characteristics to seperate these two. I am pretty sure that one has a broader subterminal black band, but am unclear as to which this is. Thanks for the help!

Cheers,
Benji

[Richard Klim]

Cercotrichas minor is split by Clements (2007).

BWP: minor differs from galactotes in warmer pink-brown upperparts, smaller size, relatively longer tail, and more rounded wing-tip; some local variation in colour of upperparts. C. m. hamertoni is even smaller, with darker upperparts.

Beaman & Madge (1998): minor is smaller and slightly longer-tailed.

Borrow & Demey (2001): minor has narrower subterminal band to tail.

[l_raty]

Originally Posted by Richard Klim

Cercotrichas minor is split by Clements (2007).

BWP: minor differs from galactotes in warmer pink-brown upperparts, smaller size, relatively longer tail, and more rounded wing-tip; some local variation in colour of upperparts. C. m. hamertoni is even smaller, with darker upperparts.

Beaman & Madge (1998): minor is smaller and slightly longer-tailed.

Borrow & Demey (2001): minor has narrower subterminal band to tail.

I have a hard time understanding how one can justify splitting minor, yet keep the syriacus subspecies group lumped with galactotes...
Plumage-wise, nominate galactotes seems much closer to minor than to syriacus (reflected by BWP including minor in the nominate sspp group, as opposed to the eastern syriacus sspp group). In terms of structure, galactotes also tends towards minor (having a longer tail relative to wing length, and a more rounded wing-tip than in syriacus).
There is no genetic evidence, as far as I know.
Are there other types of data? Voice?

L -

PS - Richard: your list indicates only ssp minor in the African SR. Is this really the way Clements splits? What about hamertoni?

[Richard Klim]

Originally Posted by l_raty

PS - Richard: your list indicates only ssp minor in the African SR. Is this really the way Clements splits? What about hamertoni?

Laurent,

My checklist lists only those taxa regularly occurring within the Holarctic region. ssp minor is included as its range includes Tibesti (within the Palearctic), but ssp hamertoni is excluded as its range (E Somali) is extralimital.

[l_raty]

Originally Posted by Richard Klim

but ssp hamertoni is excluded as its range (E Somali) is extralimital.

OK (I had previously looked at the subspecies column as an explanation of the splits more than a real part of the list, but I realise it's not what it's meant to be). Sorry for the fuss.
Best,
Laurent -