About the African Stonechat
The African stonechat or common stonechat is a species of the Old World flycatcher family (Muscicapidae), inhabiting sub-Saharan Africa and adjacent regions. Like the other chats, it was long assigned to the thrush family (Turdidae), to which the chats are convergent. Its scientific name refer to its appearance and habitat and means "collared rock-dweller": Saxicola from Latin saxum ("rock") + incola, torquatus, Latin for "collared".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The males have a black head, a white half-collar, a black back, a white rump, and a black tail; the wings are black with a large white patch on the top side of the inner wing. The upper breast is usually dark orange-red, with a sharp or gradual transition to white or pale orange on the lower breast and belly depending on subspecies. In a few, black replaces the orange breast feathers in part or entirely. Females have brown rather than black above and on the head with an indistinct paler eyebrow line, chestnut-buff rather than orange below, and less white on the wings.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the African Stonechat lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Netherlands, India, Norway, Georgia, Thailand, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Nepal, Belarus, Egypt, Sudan, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia.
When to see the African Stonechat
Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Pied Bush ChatSaxicola caprataAt 13 cm (5.1 in), the pied bush chat is slightly smaller than the Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus, although it has a similar dumpy structure and upright stance.
Siberian StonechatSaxicola maurusSiberian stonechat resembles its close relative relative the European stonechat (S. rubicola), but is typically darker above and paler below, with a white rump and whiter underparts with less orange on the breast.
Grey Bush ChatSaxicola ferreusThe grey bush chat is a species of passerine bird in the family Muscicapidae.
Side by side: African Stonechat vs European Stonechat · African Stonechat vs Whinchat · African Stonechat vs Pied Bush Chat · African Stonechat vs Siberian Stonechat
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