The Common Stonechat Saxicola torquatus is one of the commonest winter visitors to Cyprus being found almost everywhere at lower altitudes. The first ones arrive in early October and by mid-October they are very common. In mid March their numbers decrease and only a very few stragglers remain in April. They usually pair up while they are here to make it easier to defend their winter territories. A few individuals from the eastern subspecies Saxicola torquatus maurus ‘Siberian Stonechat’ and the race ‘variegatus’  ‘Caspian Stonechat’ have been recorded,  most frequently during spring.