Stonechats ― A Guide to the Genus Saxicola

This book is the first to provide a comprehensive treatment of the fourteen members of the genus Saxicola?the stonechats and bushchats. The group is distributed throughout the Old World and includes some familiar and widespread species as well as island endemics and extreme rarities. These charismatic birds are eye-catching in both appearance and behavior but are often hard to identify.

The text details all aspects of identification, including plumages, voice, behavior, seasonal movements, and distribution. There are also discussions about issues of speciation and racial variation within the genus, based on new DNA research to assess taxonomic relationships within the group, as well as explanations of conservation issues affecting the group. The book presents an impressive collection of photographs and line drawings, accompanied by an exceptionally beautiful set of thirteen color plates that show each species in a variety of plumages.

Ewan Urquhart has been involved in field ornithology for the last 36 years. Adam Bowley, a professional bird artist, was the winner of the Identification Section of Birdwatch magazine’s prestigious Bird Illustrator of the Year award in 1999 and 2000.