Little Rock Thrush

Monticola rufocinereus

Little Rock Thrush, Monticola rufocinereus, photo © by Michael Plagens

Near acacia woodland at lake Elementaita, Kenya. Dec. 2015. It is perched on an exotic, invasive plant, an American prickly pear cactus.

From Wikipedia:
This insectivorous bird is found in rocky areas with some trees, and sometimes near settlements.[2][3] At 15 to 16 cm this is the smallest of the rock thrushes. The male has the head, throat and upper mantle blue-grey, the underparts orange-red, except for the blackish centre tail and tips which form an inverted T shape. The female is duller and paler.[2] It is readily mistaken for a redstart because of its habit of trembling its tail.

Muscicapidae -- Old World Flycatcher Family

Books:

  • Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania by Zimmerman et al.
  • Birds of East Africa by Stevenson and Fanshawe

More Information:


Kenya Natural History

Copyright Michael J. Plagens, page created 28 March 2016.