Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush
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| Rock Thrush | ||||||||||||||
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| Monticola saxatilis (Linnaeus,, 1766) |
The Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush, or just Rock Thrush, Monticola saxatilis is a member of the thrush family Turdidae.
It breeds in southern Europe across central Asia to northern China. This species is strongly migratory, all populations wintering in Africa south of the Sahara. It is an uncommon visitor to northern Europe.
This species breeds in open dry hilly areas, usually above 1500m.
It nests in rock cavities, laying 4-5 eggs. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects and berries.
This is a medium-sized but stocky thrush 17-20cm in length . The summer male is unmistakable, with a blue-grey head, orange underparts and outer tail feathers, dark brown wings and white back.
Females and immatures are much less striking, with dark brown scaly upperparts, and paler brown scaly underparts. The outer tail feathers are reddish, like the male.
The male Rock Thrush has a clear and tuneful song.
Public domain image from a 1905 field guide (http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/birds/naumann.htm)