The little rock thrush (Monticola rufocinereus) is a species of passerine bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Yemen.[1] It is found in rocky (inland cliffs and mountain peaks) areas with some trees, and sometimes near settlements.[2][3][4] At 15 to 16 centimetres (5.9 to 6.3 in) this is the smallest of the Muscicapidae. The male has the head, throat and upper mantle blue-grey, the underparts orange-red, except for the center blackish center tail and tips which form an inverted T shape. The female is duller and paler.[3] It is readily mistaken for a redstart because of its habit of trembling its tail.[4]

Little rock thrush
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Monticola
Species:
M. rufocinereus
Binomial name
Monticola rufocinereus
(Rüppell, 1837)
Little rock thrush in the gorge at Debre Berhan, Ethiopia

References

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  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2016). "Monticola rufocinereus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22708265A94154605. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22708265A94154605.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Aerts, R.; Lerouge, F.; November, E. (2019). Birds of forests and open woodlands in the highlands of Dogu'a Tembien. In: Nyssen J., Jacob, M., Frankl, A. (Eds.). Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District. SpringerNature. ISBN 978-3-030-04954-6.
  3. ^ a b Stevenson & Fanshawe 2002, p. 342
  4. ^ a b Sinclair & Ryan 2003, p. 434

Works cited

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  • Sinclair, Ian; Ryan, Peter (2003). Birds of Africa south of the Sahara. Cape Town: Struik.
  • Stevenson, Terry; Fanshawe, John (2002). A Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa.