Blue Rock-Thrush
Monticola solitarius
Medium-sized thrush-like bird, often seen on mountainsides, sea cliffs, quarries, ruins, and even towns. Males usually unmistakable: western birds are dark blue all over, but may appear all dark at a distance; eastern birds are blue with orange underparts. Females dark brown above, finely barred below. Long bill, wings, and tail make for a distinctive and very different shape than Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush. Song is melodic and blackbird-like.
Identification
The blue rock thrush is a starling-sized bird, 21–23 cm (8.3–9.1 in) in length with a long slim bill. The breeding male of the nominate subspecies is unmistakable, with all blue-grey plumage apart from its darker wings. Females and immatures are much less striking, with dark brown upperparts, and paler brown scaly underparts. The male of the subspecies M. s. philippensis has rufous-chestnut plumage from the mid-breast down to the undertail. Both sexes lack the reddish outer tail feathers of rock thrush.<p>The male blue rock thrush sings a clear, melodious call that is similar to, but louder than, the call of the rock thrush.
Taxonomy
The blue rock thrush was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Turdus solitarius. The scientific name is from Latin. Monticola is from mons, montis "mountain", and colere, "to dwell", and the specific epithet solitarius means "solitary".<p>The rock thrush genus Monticola was formerly placed in the family Turdidae but molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that the species in the genus are more closely related to members of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae.<p>There are five recognised subspecies:<p>There is a proposal to split Monticola solitarius into two species: a western taxon comprising M. s. solitarius and M. s. longirostris and an eastern taxon with M. s. philippensis, M. s. pandoo and M. s. madoci.
- Scientific name
- Monticola solitarius
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Monticola
Range and habitat
The European, north African and southeast Asian birds are mainly resident, apart from altitudinal movements. Other Asian populations are more migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa, India and southeast Asia. This bird is a very uncommon visitor to northern and western Europe. It has only known to have been spotted in North America twice: once in British Columbia in 1997 and once in Oregon in 2024.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Blue rock thrush breeds in open mountainous areas. It nests in rock cavities and walls, and usually lays 3-5 eggs. An omnivore, the blue rock thrush eats a wide variety of insects and small reptiles in addition to berries and seeds.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Sarothrura rufa
Small marsh-dwelling rail. Shy and elusive bird that is unlikely to be seen unless expressly looking for it. Male has a rufous hood and black body with white streaks. Female plain and brown. Found in a variety of thickly-vegetated wetlands. Calls are given in series, and include a repeated, rising “huuua”, a deep “chwa-ho”, and a whining “chee-ya”. Similar to Streaky-breasted Flufftail, but male has a darker belly, and female has pale spots rather than scallops on the back.
Dot-winged Crake
Laterallus spilopterus
Small dark crake; brown above, speckled black and gray below, with black-and-white bars on the belly and vent. Occurs in both salt and freshwater marshes and damp grasslands. The song is a double-noted “tchip-pruu,” often repeated. Common call is a thin, downslurred "pwup."
Red-headed Bluebill
Spermophaga ruficapilla
Pretty member of the waxbill family that has a massive, conical bill. Males have a black belly and females a spotted one, and both sexes show an all-red head. Found in rainforest, gallery forest, thickets, and secondary habitats. Usually in pairs or small groups, in areas with thick undergrowth, and usually some grass. Sometimes on roads and paths. Vocalizations include a quiet “schpit” call and a rarely-heard whistled song. Similar to Grant’s Bluebill, but separated by all-red head. Male similar to male Black-bellied Seedcracker, but separated by its black tail and its red-and-blue rather than all-blue bill.
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