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Common Rock Thrush
(Monticola saxatilis)
: "Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush", "Rock Thrush"
 German name(s): "Steinrötel"
Size: 17-20 cm
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Physical description |
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 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.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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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.
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the
ebird.org
website.
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.
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Sightings |
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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.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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FEMALE |
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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.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
