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Photo by Romy Ocon
Masinloc, Zambales, Philippines, July 2005

Saxicola caprata

[edit] Identification

Male

• Mainly black
• White rump, wing patch and lower belly
  

Female

• Dark brown upperparts
• Rufous underparts and rump
• Lacks the white wing patches
  

Juveniles similar to females

Female
Photo by Bobby6425
Tabunan, Cebu, Philippines, September 2009

[edit] Similar Species

Slightly smaller than the Siberian Stonechat

[edit] Distribution

Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh eastwards to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies

There are 16 subspecies^[1]:

• S. c. rossorum: Transcaspia to eastern Iran, Afghanistan and northern Kashmir
• S. c. bicolor: Males: vermiculated dark grey upperparts; Pakistan to Baluchistan and Kashmir; winters to central India
• S. c. burmanicus: Central India to south-western China, Myanmar, northern Thailand and Indochina
• S. c. nilgiriensis: Southern India (western Madras and Kerala)
• S. c. atratus: Sri Lanka
• S. c. caprata: Northern Philippines (Luzon, Lubang and Mindoro)
• S. c. randi : Philippines (Negros, Bohol, Masbate, Ticao, Cebu, Siquijor)
• S. c. anderseni: Southern Philippines (Mindanao, Camiguin Sur, Leyte and Biliran)
• S. c. fruticola: Java, Bali. Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Lomblen and Alor
• S. c. pyrrhonotus: Lesser Sundas (Kisar, Wetar, Sawu, Semau, Roti and Timor)
• S. c. francki: Sumba Island (Lesser Sundas)
• S. c. cognatus: Babar Island (Lesser Sundas)
• S. c. albonotatus: Sulawesi, Salayar and Butung islands
• S. c. aethiops: Northern New Guinea and New Britain (Bismarck Archipelago)
• S. c. belensis: Central mountains of New Guinea (Wissel Lakes to Snow Mountains)
• S. c. wahgiensis: Central highlands of New Guinea to Huon Peninsula and south-eastern mountains

[edit] Habitat

Scrub, rough grassland and cultivation.

[edit] Behaviour

Both males and females perch on grass stems, rocks and other vantage points where they drop down for insects or catch them on the wing. In the breeding season the males will drive off competitors often followed by the female and sing from exposed perches. Not shy and can be very approachable.

[edit] Breeding

It builds its nest in a hole in a wall or similar site, and lays 2-5 eggs.

[edit] Diet

This species is insectivorous, and like other chats hunts from a prominent low perch

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. AvianWeb

• List of references

[edit] External Links