Scientific name: Monticola saxatilis (Linnaeus, 1766)
Bird group: Thrushes and allies
Field characters. 19 cm. Small thrush-like bird with strong bill, but with short tail. Male has light- slate-blue head, throat, back and rump, a large white patch on lower back, orange underparts and tail and black wings. Female has white throat, strongly barred and spotted buff and brown body with some orange on lower belly and undertail coverts, and rufous tail. Upright stance with short tail suggests wheatear. When perched often flicks tail, like Common Stonechat. Shy, usually solitary or in pairs.
Voice. Song flowing, melodious, with Redwing-like tones, and often mimics. Female also sings. Calls 'tiu' and repeated 'chak'.
Distribution. Locally common summer visitor, but widespread.
Habitat. Warm, dry, and open limestone country with sparse trees and bushes, both in mountains and in lower hills. Often found near ruins, which it uses look-out for hunting.
Food. Mainly large insects, which it spots from perch. Also some small vertebrates (eg. lizards) and seeds. Flies down to ground to catch prey, but also hops and runs like wheatear. Sometimes catches insects in flight.