Blue rock thrush

The blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius) is a species of chat. This thrush-like Old World flycatcher was formerly placed in the family Turdidae. It breeds in southern Europe, northwest Africa, and from central Asia to northern China and Malaysia. The blue rock thrush is the official national bird of Malta and was shown on the Lm 1 coins that were part of the country's former currency.

Scientific Name : Monticola solitarius

Family : Muscicapidae

Order : Passeriformes

Class : Aves

Type : Chats And Old World Flycatchers

Conservation Status : Least concern (LC)

Size : 21 - 23 cm

Compare Size : Bulbul +

Wingspan : 33 - 37 cm

Weight : 37 - 70 g

Migratory : Resident Migrant

Sex Alike : No

Nesting Season : April - June

Other Names :

Hindi : काश्मिरी कस्तुरी

Marathi : निळा कस्तूर, नीलकस्तुरी

Habitat:
Hillsides, Rock scarps, Ruins of forts, Ancient Buildings

Breeding:
Eggs - 3 - 5, pale blue speckled with brownish-red.

Feeding:
Wide variety of Insects and Small reptiles, Berries and Seeds.


Identification Features

Male
Wing darker black
Note :
breeding male has blue-grey plumage
Female
Upperparts dark brown
Underparts scaly paler brown
Immature
Note :
simillar to female
male of the subspecies M.s.philippensis
Breast rufous-chestnut from center towards belly
Belly rufous-chestnut
Note :
ligher blue in plumage

Gallery

Similar Birds

(Chats And Old World Flycatchers)