Common Rock Thrush
Monticola saxatilis
The Common Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) is a uncommon chats, old world flycatchers, and alli found in 85 countries, weighing about 50 g. The common rock thrush, also known as the rufous-tailed rock thrush or simply rock thrush, is a species of chat that breeds in southern Europe across Central Asia to northern China.
About the Common Rock Thrush
The common rock thrush, also known as the rufous-tailed rock thrush or simply rock thrush, is a species of chat that breeds in southern Europe across Central Asia to northern China. This species is strongly migratory, all populations wintering in Africa south of the Sahara. It is an uncommon visitor to northern Europe. Its range has contracted somewhat at the periphery in recent decades due to habitat destruction. For example, in the early 20th century it bred in the Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska (Poland) where none occur today, but it is not considered globally endangered.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This is a medium-sized but stocky thrush 17–20 cm in length. The summer male is unmistakable, with a blue-grey head, orange underparts and outer tail feathers, dark brown wings and white back. Females and immatures are much less striking, with dark brown scaly upperparts, and paler brown scaly underparts. The outer tail feathers are reddish, like the male.
What the Common Rock Thrush sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Sweden, India, Germany, United States, Netherlands, Finland, Czechia, Norway, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Moldova, Kosovo, Belgium.
When to see it
Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, with peak activity in May. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Common Rock Thrush?
- This is a medium-sized but stocky thrush 17–20 cm in length. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Common Rock Thrush?
- The Common Rock Thrush is a small sized bird weighing about 50 g.
- Where can you see a Common Rock Thrush?
- The Common Rock Thrush occurs in 85 countries, including France, Spain, Kenya, the United Arab Emirates and Türkiye.
- What does a Common Rock Thrush sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Common Rock Thrush on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Common Rock Thrush?
- The Common Rock Thrush is most easily confused with the Cape Rock Thrush, the Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush and the Short-toed Rock Thrush.
- Is the Common Rock Thrush endangered?
- The Common Rock Thrush is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Common Rock Thrush for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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