From Opus

European Stonechat
Photo by IanF
Zinc Works Road, Seaton Carew, Cleveland, UK, June 2007

Saxicola rubicola

[edit] Identification

Male

• Black head
• White half-collar
• Black back
• White rump
• Black tail
• Black wings with a large white patch on the top side of the inner wing
• Dark orange-red upper breast
• White or pale orange lower breast and belly

Female
Photo by Geminineil
East Sussex, October 2010

Females

• Brown above and on head
• Indistinct pale eyebrow line
• Chestnut-buff underparts

[edit] Distribution

Found in Europe (mainly S and W), northwestern Africa and Turkey.

[edit] Taxonomy

Two subspecies recognized:

• S. r. hibernans in Ireland, Britain, western France and Portugal
• S. r. rubicola in Europe, northwest Africa, Turkey and to the Caucasus

Formerly included in Common Stonechat together with African Stonechat and Siberian Stonechat.

[edit] Habitat

Open rough scrubland and rough grassland with scattered shrubs.

On migration may be found in drier areas.

[edit] Behaviour

Most often seen in pairs perched up on a stick or shrub. It flies down onto the ground, returning to the same perch. Often flicks its wings.

[edit] Diet

This species eats mainly insects and worms.

[edit] Breeding

The nest is well hidden inside a clump of vegetation and consists of an untidy bowl of grass and rootlets. It is lined neatly with rootlets and animal hairs.

[edit] References

1. BirdLife International

• List of references

[edit] External Links

This link finds videos titled "European Stonechat"