The blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius) is a species of chat. This thrush-like Old World flycatcher was formerly placed in the familyTurdidae. 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 (the word for it in Maltese being Merill) and was shown on the Lm 1 coins that were part of the country's former currency.
The rock thrush genus Monticola was formerly placed in the family Turdidae[5] 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.[6]
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.[9]
Description
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.[8] 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.[8] Both sexes lack the reddish outer tail feathers of rock thrush.
The male blue rock thrush sings a clear, melodious call that is similar to, but louder than the call of the rock thrush.
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.
Behaviour
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.[8]
^BirdLife International (2016). "Monticola solitarius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22708286A87933903. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22708286A87933903.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
^Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata (in Latin). Vol. 1. Holmiae:Laurentii Salvii. p. 170.
^Mayr, Ernst; Paynter, Raymond A. Jr. (1964). Check-list of Birds of the World. Volume 10. Vol. 10. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 138.
^Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London, United Kingdom: Christopher Helm. pp. 260, 359. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4..
^Dickinson, E.C., ed. (2003). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World (3rd ed.). London: Christopher Helm. ISBN978-0-7136-6536-9.
^Sangster, G.; Alström, P.; Forsmark, E.; Olsson, U. (2010). "Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of Old World chats and flycatchers reveals extensive paraphyly at family, subfamily and genus level (Aves: Muscicapidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 57 (1): 380–392. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.07.008. PMID 20656044.
^Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2016). "Chats, Old World flycatchers". World Bird List Version 6.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
^ abcdCollar, N. (2020). "Blue Rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius)". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions. doi:10.2173/bow.burthr.01. S2CID 216233603. Retrieved 9 July 2016.(subscription required)
^Zuccon, D.; Ericson, Per G.P. (2010). "The Monticola rock-thrushes: phylogeny and biogeography revisited". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 55 (3): 901–910. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.01.009. PMID 20079862.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Monticola solitarius.
Blue rock thrush videos, photos & sounds on the Internet Bird Collection
Xeno-canto: audio recordings of the blue rock thrush
August 22, 2023
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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 the word for it in Maltese being Merill and was shown on the Lm 1 coins that were part of the country s former currency Blue rock thrushMale M s solitariusFemale M s solitariusConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PasseriformesFamily MuscicapidaeGenus MonticolaSpecies M solitariusBinomial nameMonticola solitarius Linnaeus 1758 Range of M solitarius Breeding Resident Passage Non breeding Vagrant seasonality uncertain SynonymsTurdus solitarius Linnaeus 1758 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksTaxonomy EditThe blue rock thrush was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Turdus solitarius 2 3 The scientific name is from Latin Monticola is from mons montis mountain and colere to dwell and the specific epithet solitarius means solitary 4 The rock thrush genus Monticola was formerly placed in the family Turdidae 5 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 6 There are five recognised subspecies 7 8 M s solitarius Linnaeus 1758 northwest Africa south Europe north Turkey to Georgia and Azerbaijan M s longirostris Blyth 1847 Greece and west and south Turkey through the Middle East to the northwest Himalayas to northeast Africa and India M s pandoo Sykes 1832 central Himalayas to east China and north Vietnam to Greater Sunda Islands M s philippensis Statius Muller 1776 east Mongolia to Sakhalin south to Japan extreme north Philippines and northeast China to Indonesia M s madoci Chasen 1940 Malay Peninsula and north SumatraThere 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 9 Description EditThe 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 8 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 8 Both sexes lack the reddish outer tail feathers of rock thrush The male blue rock thrush sings a clear melodious call that is similar to but louder than the call of the rock thrush Distribution and habitat Edit female at KutchThe 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 Behaviour EditBlue 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 8 Gallery Edit Male M s philippensis Female winter Yakushima Japan Male autumn Wakayama Prefecture Japan Breeding male of race pandoo from northeastern India Male late winter Spain Female late winter Maharashtra India Male in December near Gumma Nayakana Palya Karnataka Male in January Gamla Nature Reserve Israel Monticola solitarius solitarius MHNTReferences Edit BirdLife International 2016 Monticola solitarius IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22708286A87933903 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22708286A87933903 en Retrieved 13 November 2021 Linnaeus C 1758 Systema naturae per regna tria naturae secundum classes ordines genera species cum characteribus differentiis synonymis locis Tomus I Editio decima reformata in Latin Vol 1 Holmiae Laurentii Salvii p 170 Mayr Ernst Paynter Raymond A Jr 1964 Check list of Birds of the World Volume 10 Vol 10 Cambridge Massachusetts Museum of Comparative Zoology p 138 Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London United Kingdom Christopher Helm pp 260 359 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 Dickinson E C ed 2003 The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World 3rd ed London Christopher Helm ISBN 978 0 7136 6536 9 Sangster G Alstrom P Forsmark E Olsson U 2010 Multi locus phylogenetic analysis of Old World chats and flycatchers reveals extensive paraphyly at family subfamily and genus level Aves Muscicapidae Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 57 1 380 392 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2010 07 008 PMID 20656044 Gill Frank Donsker David eds 2016 Chats Old World flycatchers World Bird List Version 6 2 International Ornithologists Union Retrieved 20 May 2016 a b c d Collar N 2020 Blue Rock thrush Monticola solitarius In del Hoyo J Elliott A Sargatal J Christie D A de Juana E eds Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive Lynx Edicions doi 10 2173 bow burthr 01 S2CID 216233603 Retrieved 9 July 2016 subscription required Zuccon D Ericson Per G P 2010 The Monticola rock thrushes phylogeny and biogeography revisited Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 55 3 901 910 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2010 01 009 PMID 20079862 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Monticola solitarius Blue rock thrush videos photos amp sounds on the Internet Bird Collection Ageing and sexing by Javier Blasco Zumeta amp Gerd Michael Heinze Xeno canto audio recordings of the blue rock thrush Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blue rock thrush amp oldid 1170643487, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
