About the Reunion Stonechat
The Réunion stonechat is a species of stonechat, endemic to the French Indian Ocean island of Réunion. It is found across the island in forests, shrublands and artificial environments such as gardens and plantations. This small passerine bird is common in clearings and open mountain bushlands there up to 2600 metres above sea level, including in the plains around Piton de la Fournaise.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Overall, the male is black above and white below, but also with a white supercilium (sometimes absent), half-collar, and greater covert patch, and a variable-sized orange patch on the breast. Females differ from males in being browner above, more buff-toned below, and often lacking the white greater covert patch. The white throat and (usually white) supercilium are the most prominent external differences from the African stonechat S. torquatus, which has a wholly black head including the throat and supercilium.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Reunion Stonechat sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in October · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
White-tailed StonechatSaxicola leucurusVery similar in plumage to european stonechat (Saxicola rubicola).
Canary Islands StonechatSaxicola dacotiaeThe Canary Islands stonechat is intermediate in appearance between the European stonechat and the whinchat; its body size and shape reminiscent of a lithe European robin.
White-browed Bush ChatSaxicola macrorhynchusThe white-browed bush chat, also known as Stoliczka's bushchat, is an Old World flycatcher in the genus Saxicola.
Learn the Reunion Stonechat for real
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