Monticola saxatilis
The Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush is a striking bird with distinct sexual dimorphism. Males display a blue-grey head and upper mantle, contrasting with orange underparts and a rufous tail. The wings are brownish-grey with a distinctive white back patch.
Females are more subdued, with greyish-brown plumage and buff scaling, featuring orange-buff underparts with grey-brown barring and a whitish chin. Both sexes share similar tail colouring.
Juveniles resemble females but show heavier marking above and broader buff wing edges. Young males in their first summer show some residual scaling both above and below.
Length
16cm to 19cm
Wingspan
33cm to 37cm
Weight
40g to 65g
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrushes inhabit open, rocky areas in mountainous regions across Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. They prefer sparsely vegetated slopes, alpine meadows, and rocky outcrops.
During the breeding season, they are found in upland areas of central and southern Europe. In winter, they migrate to sub-Saharan Africa and southern Arabia, occupying similar rocky habitats at lower elevations.
Up to 4,000 meters
Temperate, Mediterranean, Subtropical
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you: