Redwing (Turdus iliacus)
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)
Small thrush with rufous flanks, strong white supercilium and whitish moustache stripe. Upperparts evenly brown, underparts white with dark spots on chest and sides. Underwing coverts rufous. Fairly compact build, with slightly more pointed wings and shorter tail than Song Thrush. Juveniles less brightly coloured, with buff spots on upperparts. Behaviour less secretive than Song Thrush.
Sound:Song delivered in two parts. First a simple, melodic phrase of 3 - 6 notes, usually followed by a more silent, indistinct, fast and less melodic, chattering sequence. First part highly variable from place to place, but constant in individuals. Often causes confusion when a new dialect is heard at a distance, since only the first part is far-reaching, and the diagnostic two-part structure gets lost. Contact call a thin, drawn and sharp "sreee". Often heard at night during migration. Alarm call harder, dryer and more raucous than other thrushes.
Song:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCA slim, medium large thrush attached to rocky terrain, mountains or concrete buildings. Differs from Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrust, Monticola saxatilis in all plumages by long bill, and long, dark tail (not rufous). Bill and tail gives the bird an elongated appearance and profile. The tail reaches far behind the primaries when perched. Male unmistakable if seen well, but note that the bluish tones appears dark grey in unfavorable light. First winter males are barred underneath but gradually turns bluer and more evenly coloured. Immatures and females look alike with grey-brown upperparts and barred underparts, and are generally darker in throat and breast than M. saxatilis.
Sound:Alarm call consists of short, soft whistles. Often two notes in sequence, the second one higher ("pjuu-eee"), and sometimes followed by series of dry "check" sounds. The song is a beautiful, melodious fluting which can be very difficult to distinguish from M. saxatilis. It generally has a more melancholic feel, with more tremulous fluting than the latter, with less lingering in the higher register. The structure is variable and simple, but sometimes more elaborate in song-flight or when including mimicry. Both sexes sing, but male most actively.
Song:
Distribution:
Xeno-canto: map
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC