- Saxicola caprata
Photo taken: Masinloc, Zambales, Philippines
Identification
The Pied Bushchat is slightly smaller than the Siberian Stonechat, Saxicola maura, although it has a similar dumpy structure and upright stance. The male is black except for a white rump, wing patch and lower belly. The males of the race S. c. bicolor have vermiculated dark grey upperparts. This species is apparently fairly close to the European-African Stonechat complex (Wink et al., 2002).
The female has dark brown upperparts and rufous underparts and rump. She has no white wing patches. Juveniles are similar to females.
Distribution
It is a resident breeder in tropical southern Asia from the Greater Middle East through Pakistan, India and Bangladesh eastwards to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Taxonomy
The Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae. It, and similar small species in the family, are often called chats.
Habitat
Male Pied BushchatIt is found in open habitats like scrub, rough grassland and cultivation.
Behaviour
It builds its nest in a hole in a wall or similar site, and lays 2-5 eggs.
This species is insectivorous, and like other chats hunts from a prominent low perch
