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Blue Rock Thrush
(Monticola solitarius)
Size: 21-23 cm
Weight: 37-70 g
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Blue Rock Thrushes are relatively large flycatchers.
Their plumage is
dimorphic, i.e.
males and
females
are different.
Males
are bluish-grey all over, except the wings, which are dark-grey.
Females
have a grey-brown crown and nape of the neck. The rest of the back,
uppertail and upperwings is also homogeneous grey-brown. The front
lores, ear coverts and chin downward is finely barred dark grey-brown
on lighter brown.
Both sexes have dark irises. The long, straight and slender bill is
dark-grey; the legs and feet are also dark-grey.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Blue
Rock Thrush at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat |
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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 Blue Rock Thrush is available
HERE
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Blue Rock Thrushes are permanent residents in the near-coastal
parts of North-west Africa, in particular the Atlas mountain
range, and along the northern Mediterranean near-coastal areas,
plus parts of inland Spain, basically all of Italy and all
of Greece, plus the western and southern coastline of Asia Minor.
They are also found permanently along the eastern coastline of
the Mediterranean Sea.
Their distribution continues eastward throughout subtropical
Asia to Korea and Japan in the far East.
During the summer they extend their breeding range into the
higher parts of mountain ranges (Atlas, Alps) and much of
Asia Minor (except the central part) right into the Caucasus
mountains and further south-eastward. The Asian population
(from Asia Minor via western and central Asia to northern
China and Malaysia) are migratory, wintering in parts of
south-eastern Asia, India, Arabia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Blue Rock Thrushes found in Arabia are either wintering
there or in passage between Africa and Asia. While in
passage they can be found over much of the Arabian
peninsula, in particular the coastal fringes and nearby
ranges.
Blue Rock Thrushes are often found in mountainous terrain,
but are found along rocky coastlines, in quarries, ruins
and other stony habitats as well.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Photos of a male Blue Rock Thrush are available
HERE.
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FEMALE |
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Lateral view of a female Blue Rock Thrush; note the barring on
the underparts
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, December 2009]
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Call(s)/Song |
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For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
More Blue Rock Thrush sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
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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
are welcome.