stonechat

Stonechat is a small passerine bird in the family Muscicapidae, found in open country across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The common European stonechat is Saxicola torquatus, and several subspecies occupy different regions. Some authorities classify European and African populations as separate species within the Saxicola torquatus complex.

Adults are about 11–12 cm long, with a short tail and an upright posture. Males typically have a dark head and throat with a white neck collar and rufous-brown upperparts; females and juveniles are dull brown above with pale underparts.

Stonechats prefer open, scrubby habitats such as heath, grassland margins, hedgerows, and rocky or stone-walled areas. They perch conspicuously on shrubs or walls while watching for insects, which they catch by short flights from the perch.

Breeding: Nests are cup-shaped, placed close to the ground in dense vegetation, crevices, or on ledges. Clutch size is usually 4–6 eggs. Both parents may participate in feeding the young; incubation lasts about 11–14 days, with fledging following in roughly two weeks.

Vocalizations include a sharp alarm call and a plain, repetitive song delivered from an exposed perch. The species is generally sedentary in milder parts of its range but partially migratory in northern areas.

Conservation: The stonechat has a wide distribution and is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN. While overall numbers are stable, localized habitat loss can affect regional populations.