Cape Rock-thrush

Taxobox
name = Cape Rock Thrush

---

status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Turdidae
genus = "Monticola"
species = "M. rupestris "
binomial = "Monticola rupestris "
binomial_authority = (Vieillot, 1818)The Cape Rock-Thrush "Monticola rupestris" is a member of the thrush family of birds. This rock thrush breeds in eastern and southern South Africa. It is a common endemic resident, non-migratory apart from seasonal altitudinal movements in some areas.

This species breeds in mountainous rocky areas with scattered vegetation. It lays 2-3 eggs in a cup nest in a rock cavity or on a ledge. It eats a wide range of insects and other small animals, and some berries.

This is a large stocky rock thrush 19-21 cm in length . The summer male has a blue-grey head, orange underparts and outer tail feathers, and brown wings and back.

Females have a brown head, but their underparts are a much richer orange than those of other female rock thrushes. The outer tail feathers are reddish, like the male's. Immatures are like the female , but the upperparts have buff spots and the underparts show black scaling.

The male Cape Rock Thrush has a whistled song "tsee-tsee-tseet-chee-chweeeoo", and occasionally mimics other birds.

References

* Clement and Hathaway, "Thrushes" ISBN 0-7136-3940-7
* Sinclair, Hockey and Tarboton, "SASOL Birds of Southern Africa", ISBN 1-86872-721-1