Ta!
But which names? I've seen all three names in different pairings and the scientific names seem to be a bit fluid, too...
The scientific names are not fluid, except for the split/lump issue.
-
O. xanthoprymna xanthoprymna (lumped) =
O. xanthoprymna (split) is the form with a black throat and white tail sides, that breeds from S Turkey to SW Iran.
-
O. xanthoprymna chrysopygia (lumped) =
O. chrysopygia (split) is the nondescript grey-brown form with rufous tail sides, that breeds from Transcaucasia to Afghanistan.
I've seen the lumped species called "Red-tailed" (mainly oldish literature), "Rufous-tailed" (more recent), and "Persian" (e.g., Collins Bird Guide).
Once split, the confusion starts...
"Red-tailed", "Rusty-tailed" or "Afghan" would probably always apply to
chrysopygia.
"Kurdish", "Kurdistan" or "Chestnut-rumped" would be
xanthoprymna; "Red-rumped" is also sometimes used for this form, but obviously offers confusion with
O. moesta (then renamed "Buff-rumped").
I've seen at least "Persian" and "Rufous-tailed" used for both. (Both breed in Persia, so "Persian" is confusing. Where I've seen "Rufous-tailed" used for
xanthoprymna, it was opposed to "Red-tailed" for
chrysopygia - e.g., in some OSME checklists.)
Regarding Europe: this depends a bit where you place the limit between Europe and Asia.
Chrysopygia breeds in Transcaucasia (i.a. Armenia), but I don't think it reaches any area N of the Great Caucasus (it's not impossible that I could be proved wrong on this, though);
xanthoprymna is accidental on Cyprus.
