- Monticola solitarius
Identification
20–23 cm (7¾-9 in)
Male nominate
- Blue-grey plumage
- Darker wings and tail
Female variable and immature
- Dark brown upperparts
- Pale brown scaly underparts
Variations
Male of East Asian subspecies philippenis has chestnut underparts. Southeast Asian subspecies madoci small and short-tailed.
Distribution
Southern Europe, north-western Africa (wintering to north-eastern and central Africa), Siberia to central Asia to northern China and Malaysia.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Malshej Ghat, Sahyadri Mountains, District Thane, Maharashtra, India, 30 December 2023
There are 5 subspecies[1]:
- M. s. solitarius:
- Southern Europe, north-western Africa and Middle East; winters to central Africa
- M. s. longirostris:
- M. s. pandoo:
- M. s. philippensis:
- M. s. madoci:
Habitat
Fairly conspicuous on exposed rocky slopes, road cuts even through forests, open areas including parks, and along rocky streams and rivers (on wintering grounds).
Photo © by robby thai
Koh Chang Island, Ranong Province, Thailand, 3 April 2014
Behaviour
Breeding
They nest on steep cliffs in rock cavities and walls. The clutch consists of 3-5 eggs.
Diet
The diet vertebrates, small vertebrates, insects and fruit. Insects include grasshoppers, locusts and crickets.
Vocalisation
One subadult, perched on a steel bar, projecting from a tall overhead water supply tank, giving four/ five types of calls and song :
Audio © by Alok Tewari
Malshej Ghat ( Mountain Pass ), Sahayadri Range, Thane, Maharashtra, India.
30 December 2023 ... 3.57 pm
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Collar, N. (2019). Blue Rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/58415 on 26 March 2019).
- Clement, P. & Hathway, R. (2000) Thrushes. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Blue Rock Thrush. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 February 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Blue_Rock_Thrush
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.