- Saxicola caprata
Identification
13–14 cm (5-5½ in)
Male
- Mainly black
- White rump, wing patch and lower belly
Female
- Dark brown upperparts
- Rufous underparts and rump
- Lacks the white wing patches
Juveniles similar to females
Similar Species
Slightly smaller than the Siberian Stonechat
Distribution
Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh eastwards to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India, June-2017
There are 16 subspecies[1]:
- S. c. rossorum: Transcaspia to eastern Iran, Afghanistan and northern Kashmir
- S. c. bicolor: Males: vermiculated dark grey upperparts; Pakistan to Baluchistan and Kashmir; winters to central India
- S. c. burmanicus: Central India to south-western China, Myanmar, northern Thailand and Indochina
- S. c. nilgiriensis: Southern India (western Madras and Kerala)
- S. c. atratus: Sri Lanka
- S. c. caprata: Northern Philippines (Luzon, Lubang and Mindoro)
- S. c. randi : Philippines (Negros, Bohol, Masbate, Ticao, Cebu, Siquijor)
- S. c. anderseni: Southern Philippines (Mindanao, Camiguin Sur, Leyte and Biliran)
- S. c. fruticola: Java, Bali. Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Lomblen and Alor
- S. c. pyrrhonotus: Lesser Sundas (Kisar, Wetar, Sawu, Semau, Rote and Timor)
- S. c. francki: Sumba Island (Lesser Sundas)
- S. c. cognatus: Babar Island (Lesser Sundas)
- S. c. albonotatus: Sulawesi, Salayar and Butung islands
- S. c. aethiops: Northern New Guinea and New Britain (Bismarck Archipelago)
- S. c. belensis: Central mountains of New Guinea (Wissel Lakes to Snow Mountains)
- S. c. wahgiensis: Central highlands of New Guinea to Huon Peninsula and south-eastern mountains
Habitat
Scrub, rough grassland and cultivation.
Behaviour
Both males and females perch on grass stems, rocks and other vantage points where they drop down for insects or catch them on the wing. In the breeding season the males will drive off competitors often followed by the female and sing from exposed perches. Not shy and can be very approachable.
Breeding
It builds its nest in a hole in a wall or similar site, and lays 2-5 eggs.
Diet
This species is insectivorous, and like other chats hunts from a prominent low perch
References
- 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/
- AvianWeb
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Pied Bushchat. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 18 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Pied_Bushchat
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
