White-tailed Stonechat
Saxicola leucurus
An active little bird that inhabits reeds and tall grasses in low-lying wetlands. Flicks its tail often to reveal white feathers with black edges and tips. The male has a black hood with a neat border along the collar, white underparts, and a red patch on the breast. Its back is black in the breeding season and brown with streaks in the nonbreeding season. The female is grayish-brown with an indistinct supercilium and a white throat. Both sexes similar to Common Stonechat, but female White-tailed Stonechat is paler, while the male appears whiter below and shows the white in the tail when flicked or in flight.
Identification
Very similar in plumage to european stonechat (Saxicola rubicola). The male has black head, white collar and bright rufous chest patch. The back and wings are dark, with white on wing coverts and rump. The key differentiating feature from male common stonechat is the white inner webs of outer tail feathers which is visible when the bird spreads the tail in flight or while landing. Note that this may not be visible when the tail is folded. The female is very similar to female european stonechat, but is overall paler with duller rump, tail and wings.
Taxonomy
Considered monotypic though there are slight variations in plumage for birds from South Assam Hills (where the birds are darker and large billed) and Pakistan (where chest patch is more reddish). Though sympatric with Asian stonechat in its range, they do not intergrade.
- Scientific name
- Saxicola leucurus
- Authority
- (Blyth, 1847)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Saxicola
Range and habitat
White-tailed stonechats are resident in suitable marshy habitats across plains in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, North and Central and Eastern parts of India till South Assam Hills & Manipur. They prefer grasslands and marshy areas with tall grass, reeds and tamarisk. They also undertake local movements, based on water availability and possibly for breeding.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Typical of stonechats, they catch their prey by dropping to ground or making short sallies from their perch. They are generally found in loose pairs, rarely in singles.<p>Key breeding season is Mar-May when it makes a cup shaped nest in natural depressions on the ground among plants like lotuses or tamarisk.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
White-winged Flufftail
Sarothrura ayresi
Very rare, small rail of montane marshes. Extremely shy and elusive bird that is unlikely to be seen unless expressly looking for it. Dark on the back with a white belly. Male has a rufous hood. Both sexes show large white wing patches in flight. Known from a handful of shallow high-elevation marshes. May be migratory, though its habits are poorly understood. Call is a series of deep, hollow, two-part hoots.
Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna ferruginea
Striking and distinctive gooselike duck. Plumage bright ruddy overall with contrasting pale creamy head and neck; male has narrow black neck ring. Big white forewing patches striking in flight. Breeds in southeastern Europe and Central Asia, winters in South Asia. Often found around saline lakes; also reservoirs and agricultural fields. Escapees from waterfowl collections occasionally seen free-flying outside of native range.
Black-throated Huet-huet
Pteroptochos tarnii
Fairly common but elusive; heard far more often than seen. Favors native temperate forest and adjacent shrubbery, especially bamboo. Feeds on the ground by scratching with its big feet in leaf litter, and runs very quickly and stealthily. Agitated birds can call loudly from middle level perches, cocking their tail. Nests in burrows, but can nest high up in tree hollows. Plumage distinctive, with pale eyering, dark slaty throat and breast, and rusty belly. No range overlap with Chestnut-throated Huet-huet.
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