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19

Common Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) Alternate name(s): "Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush", "Rock Thrush" German name(s): "Steinrötel" Size: 17-20 cm

Europe: Family Group 19 Family Group 19 Table European Robin Common Redstart Black Redstart Bluethroat Whinchat European Stonechat Common Rock Thrush Blue Rock Thrush Common Nightingale Northern Wheatear Isabelline Wheatear Black-eared Wheatear Black Wheatear White-throated Dipper Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Common Rock Thrushes are smaller than other Eurasian thrushes. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males in breeding plumage and females are different. Breeding males have a blue-grey head and neck and chestnut underparts. The mantle is grey, while the back is grey with white spots. The wings are dark grey-brown, with chestnut to white edge lining. Males in eclipse resemble females (see below). Females have boldly vermiculated plumage, with darker grey-brown hues on head, neck and back than on the front. The belly, vent and undertail coverts are the lightest parts. Wings and uppertail are similar to those of males. The irises of both sexes are dark. The short, straight bill is dark-grey in males and brownish-grey in females. Legs and feet of both sexes are dark-grey. Juveniles are similar to females and non-breeding males.

Taxonomy, classification See Common Rock Thrush at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information Common Rock Thrushes were formerly thought to be related to Eurasian thrushes. Instead, they are now known to be chats.

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Common Rock Thrush is available HERE . The breeding range of Common Rock Thrushes ranges from southern Europe in the West, via central Asia to northern China in the East. The entire population overwinters in Africa, south of the Sahara desert. On migration they can be found in areas in between, such as e.g. the North-African coastline, the Middle East or the Arabian peninsula. In Europe Common Rock Thrushes occur as breeding migrants only in the South and South-east, at altitudes higher than ca. 1500 m, from parts of southern Spain, much of northern Spain and the Pyrenees in the West, via mountainous regions of the Mediterranean islands, the Alps, the Apennine mountains in Italy, the Balkans and the High Tatras, to the West coast of the Black Sea in the East. In low-lying country near the Black Sea they are usually found only on migration. Common Rock Thrushes specialize in mountainous areas such as steep dry mountain slopes or alpine meadows.

Sightings Click here for sighting information We have not seen Common Rock Thrushes in Europe yet. The birds shown below were found by D. Wilczynska on the southern slopes of the Caucasus in Georgia in June 2018. All photographic information presented on this page has kindly been contributed by D. Wilczynska.

Photos

ADULT

FEMALE

Near-lateral view of a female Common Rock Thrush (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]

Near-lateral view of a female Common Rock Thrush (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a female Common Rock Thrush (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[June 2018]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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