Page 307 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

CHATS AND THRUSHES
Order Passeriformes Family Turdidae Species Monticola solitarius
Blue Rock Thrush

long, thick,
rich, bright spike-like
close, fine brown bars blue head bill
brownish
wings on pale face
close dark
plain brown bars on pale
back underside dark blue
body, looks
blackish at
MALE distance
quite short,
stout legs
dark brown tail
IN FLIGHT with no trace FEMALE
of rufous

MALE
JUVENILE
ark, but intensely blue in good light
D and at close range, the Blue Rock Thrush
is mostly found around cliffs and deep mountain
gorges; it also occurs around coastal villages and developments, FLIGHT: swift, direct; flappy over long distance,
perching freely on roofs and wires. In more remote places, it is recalling Blackbird.
often best located by its loud song. Females ELUSIVE ON CLIFFS
are more problematical than males but equally The blue male is handsome when
distinctive if seen well.The thrush-like silhouette, seen well but is surprisingly
with a particularly long, thick, spike-like bill, difficult to spot against rocks.
is a useful feature.
VOICE Deep,thrush-like chook,higher squeaky
notes;song rich, musical warbling, melancholy,
Blackbird-like,carrying far across gorges and cliffs.
NESTING Grassy cup in hole in wall or cliff or
under rocks; 4 or 5 eggs; 1 or 2 broods;
May–July.
FEEDING Picks insects, spiders, worms, lizards,
berries, and seeds from ground.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in Spain, Portugal, and
BLACKBIRD 32; ROCK THRUSH juvenile, SPOTLESS STARLING 32; Mediterranean area, where
2more uniform; similar to juvenile, 2; see p.373
see p.311 see p.306 stockier mostly resident. In gorges, rocky
areas with crags and boulders in
smaller and dark and mountains, and also around
brighter glossy
buildings and quarries, often
3 near coasts.
shorter
blacker rufous shorter Seen in the UK
tail tail
JF M A M J JA S ON D
Length 21–23cm (8 1 ⁄2 –9in) Wingspan 35–40cm (14–16in) Weight 60–80g (2 1 ⁄8 –2 7 ⁄8oz)
Social Family groups Lifespan 5–10 years Status Vulnerable†
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