19

European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) German name(s): "Schwarzkehlchen" Size: 11.5-13 cm; wing span 18-21 cm Body mass: 13-17 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: ca. 0.15

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 Eastern Black-eared Wheatear Black Wheatear White-throated Dipper Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description European Stonechats are small robin-like birds. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. Male European Stonechats have an all-black head, white patches on the sides of the neck and an orange chest and sides. The central belly, the vent and undertail coverts are off-white to light-grey. The upperparts are black, in some individuals with brownish edge lining, in others with grey edges. The tail is black, while the rump can be white, vermiculated white and grey or vermiculated brown and grey. Females are duller than males, with grey/brown streaking where males are black and with a paler, more rusty front. They also lack the white patches on the sides of the neck. Worn plumage, especially on the upperparts, tends to be dark than when fresh. Both sexes have dark irises, a black bill and black legs and feet. Juveniles are duller than females and their plumage is highly cryptic, streaked greyish-brown all over.

Taxonomy, classification See European Stonechat at Wikipedia .

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 European Stonechat is available HERE . European Stonechats are a partly sedentary, partly migratory Eurasian species of small "Old World Flycatchers". In North-west near-coastal Africa, along the northern Mediterranean and the South coast of the Black Sea and in western Europe they are sedentary, while elsewhere they are migratory. They overwinter in northern Africa (including the north-western coastal fringe, where they are sedentary), in the Middle East, and from south-eastern Asia Minor eastward into Iraq/Iran and near-coastal Arabia. Their breeding grounds range from central and south-eastern Europe to the North coast of the Caspian Sea. They are absent from an area spanning from ca. Poland to the Volga Basin, but a second breeding population is found further eastward, in western Russia around the Ural mountain range. In Europe, European Stonechats are sedentary all along the Mediterranean coastline, in Iberia, Italy and on all the Mediterranean islands and in western France. They are also sedentary in western coastal regions of both Britain and Ireland. Their breeding grounds range from eastern France and the Benelux countries into near-coastal western Denmark and south-western Norway, parts of Germany and from eastern Germany towards south-eastern Europe, including the Danube and its tributaries, towards Ukraine and far south-western Russia. European Stonechats are now subdivided into two races. "rubicola" populates the southern and eastern parts of the total range, from Denmark south-westward to Spain and Morocco, eastward to Poland and Ukraine, and in the South-east to Turkey. "hibernans" is present in Atlantic coastal areas of north-western Europe, from south-western Norway, Britain and Ireland to north-western France. Discussions regarding which race birds from coastal Portugal belong to are ongoing. European Stonechats have a preference for open country with shrubs such as gorse or heather.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "rubicula" J. Pires reports finding European Stonechats, nominate race "rubicola", regularly in southern/central Portugal. H. Dahlem-Senger found European Stonechats, race "rubicola", near Ostbense, Ostfriesland, Germany, in June 2021. Another was spotted near Eltville, Hessen, Germany, in June 2025. A. Sarok reports finding European Stonechats, race "rubicola", in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024. Race "hibernans" M. Eaton reports spotting European Stonechats, race "hibernans", near Padstow, Cornwall, England, in September 2019. G. Normand found a European Stonechat, race "hibernans"(?), near Vannes, Bretagne, France, in August 2020.

Photos

Race "rubicola"

Note that we are listing birds from southern, near-coastal Portugal as part of race "rubicola".

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Male European Stonechats, left, have a more conspicuous face mask than females, who overall have duller colours.

Pair of European Stonechats talking to each other? (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]

MALE

Frontal view of a male European Stonechat looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2019]

Frontal view of a male European Stonechat looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2019]

Frontal view of a male European Stonechat looking sideways (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Near-lateral view of a male European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2024]

Lateral view of a male European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2022]

Lateral view of a male European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alcaria Ruiva, Beja, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]

Lateral view of a male European Stonechat with, for comparison, a European Goldfinch (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2014]

Lateral/ventral view of a male European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2025]

Near-dorsal view of a male European Stonechat looking back at the observer (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia river, Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, April 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a male European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2025]

Dorsal view of a male European Stonechat looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2018]

Ventral view of a male European Stonechat banking to land with its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado estuary, Zambujal, Centro, Portugal, August 2020]

Frontal view of a female European Stonechat looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Acude do Gameiro, Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2022]

Frontal view of a female European Stonechat taking a bath (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2015]

Near-lateral view of a female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Near-lateral view of a female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2024]

Lateral view of a female European Stonechat looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Ribeira das Enguias, Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, January 2022]

Lateral view of a female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2022]

Lateral view of a female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2019]

Dorsal view of a female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Dorsal view of a female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2024]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral/ventral view of a first-winter male European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2018]

Near-lateral view of a first-winter male European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabecao, Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2025]

Near-lateral view of a young male European Stonechat moulting into adult plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, June 2020]

Frontal view of a first-winter female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, Ponte de Sor, Evora, Portugal, October 2020]

Near-frontal view of a first-winter female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, September 2021]

Near-lateral view of a first-winter female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Couco, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, February 2021]

Near-lateral view of a first-winter European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Lateral view of a first-winter female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2025]

Lateral view of a first-winter female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2018]

Lateral view of a first-winter female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Ria Formosa, Quinta de Marim, Olhao, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a first-winter European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a first-winter European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia river, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

Dorsal view of a first-winter European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2014]

Frontal view of a juvenile European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, April 2017]

Male European Stonechat with two juveniles (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2015]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2025]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]

Frontal view of a juvenile European Stonechat (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Ostbense, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]

Frontal view of a juvenile European Stonechat (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Ostbense, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]

Frontal view of a fledgling European Stonechat fluttering its wings (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2019]

Near-frontal view of a fledgling European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2021]

Lateral view of a fledgling European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2015]

Near-dorsal view of a fledgling European Stonechat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Race "hibernans"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male European Stonechat in worn plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a male European Stonechat in worn plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male European Stonechat in worn plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of a male European Stonechat in worn plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of a female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a female European Stonechat (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile European Stonechat starting to moult into adult plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile European Stonechat starting to moult into adult plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile European Stonechat in a bramble shrub (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Near Vannes, Bretagne, France, August 2020]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Mar - Aug(?)

Eggs: 4 - 6

Incubation period: 14 - 15 days

Fledging age: 14 - 16 days

The length of the breeding season depends on geographic latitude and can start earlier and end later in southern parts of the range, while starting later and ending earlier in the northern parts of the range. Two to three broods can be raised in most seasons.

Nest

Type: Basket on ground

Material: Grass, leaves, rootlets; hair, wool, feather lining

Height above ground: N/A

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Female & male

Lateral view of a female European Stonechat carrying nest material (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Eggs

Size: 19 x 14.5 mm

Colour: Bluish-green, with sparse small chestnut speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Partially migratory

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

In the southern and western parts of their European range, European Stonechats are sedentary. Elsewhere they are migratory.

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a male European Stonechat with its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a male European Stonechat with its prey, possibly a moth (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]

Near-dorsal view of a European Stonechat with what looks like a berry (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Near-lateral view of a female European Stonechat with its prey, a big, juicy caterpillar (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2020]

Dragonflies seem to know that European Stonechats do not prey on them (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

stoncht_jp_20230514.m4a	rubicola (Portugal)	Territorial calls (male)	© JP
stoncht_jp_20200422.m4a	rubicola (Portugal)	Territorial calls (male)	© JP
stoncht_jp_20200605.m4a	rubicola (Portugal)	Alarm calls(?)	© JP

More European Stonechat sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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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