Common Rock Thrush - BirdForum Opus

Alternative name: Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush

Male
Photo by kyyroju
Aali, Bahrain

Monticola saxatilis

Identification

Female
Photo by john-henry
Sierra de Gredos, Spain May 2007

16–19 cm (6¼-7½ in)
Male

• Pale slate-blue-grey head, neck and mantle
• Underparts and outer tail feathers are chestnut-orange
• Dark brown wings
• White blaze on back

Females and Immatures

• Dark brown scaly upperparts
• Paler brown scaly underparts.
• Outer tail feathers are reddish, like the male.

Distribution

Southern Europe across central Asia to northern China.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Habitat

Open dry hilly areas, usually above 1500m.

Behaviour

Breeding

It nests in rock cavities, laying 4-5 eggs.

Diet

The diet includes a wide range of insects and berries.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Wikipedia
3. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Common Rock Thrush. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Common_Rock_Thrush

External Links

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