- Cercomela fusca
Identification
Location: Karnal, India
aka Brown Chat or Brown Rock-Chat. Local Names: Dauma (Hindi, Uttar Pradesh); Shama (Hindi, Madhya Pradesh). Kalo patharal piddo (Gujarat).
The Brown Rock Chat or Indian Chat (Cercomela fusca) is a bird in the chat (Saxicolinae) subfamily that is largely resident in central India. The name is sometimes written Brown Rock-Chat.
It is a ground feeding bird, like most chats; in fact, chats are the only ground feeding subfamily in the Old World flycatchers family (Muscicapidae); until recently they were in the thrush (Turdidae)
Distribution
Endemic to the central portion of the Indian peninsula, north of the Narmada river, from Punjab (Pakistan) in the west through Punjab (India), Uttar Pradesh, Bihar to West Bengal, and in the western Himalayan foothills upto 1300 m. Vagrants in Nepal and North Pakistan. A common species, but non-uniformly distributed; and also exhibiting some local seasonal movements.
Habitat
Rocky hills, ravines, ruins of ancient tombs and forts, and in suburban compounds, occasionally visiting inhabited homes or nesting in rafters. Seen singly or in pairs.
Behaviour
Feeds on the ground. Usually tame and confiding. Aggressive near nest and will readily attack squirrels, rats, lizards or other intruders. Voice: A short whistling chee while bobbing the upper body. Sweet thrush-like song in breeding season. Is a good mimic, has been recorded imitating to perfection the songs of Yellow-eyed Babbler, Tickell's Blue Flycatcher, and Smaller Grey Cuckoo-Shrike. Alarm note: a harsh check-check. Food: Beetles, ants, and other, mostly ground insects. Nesting Season: February to August, mainly April-June. Nest: rough cup made from root fibers, wool, hair, etc,, placed in a rock crevice or hollow in wall. Eggs: 3 or 4, pale blue with rusty specks and spots at large end. Average size of 50 eggs: 20.5x15.5 mm. Female only incubates (period unknown). Young leave nest 14/15 days after hatching. May be ready to breed one year after birth. Often rears two broods in a season, can be up to three.
