European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
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European Stonechat

Saxicola rubicola (Linnaeus, 1766)

12–13 cmLength15 gWeight

The European stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a subspecies of the common stonechat.

Busiest months: October · Most records: Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom

Where and when it's recorded

European Stonechat has been recorded at 1,081 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 69 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Lezíria Grande de Vila Franca de Xira – área geralPortugal4,185 records
  2. Minsmere RSPB ReserveUnited Kingdom3,479 records
  3. PN Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina – CabranosaPortugal2,915 records
More places
  1. RNL Estuário do Douro – área geralPortugal2,374 records
  2. El Oso – Laguna y entornoSpain2,371 records
  3. Desembocadura del Guadalhorce – ÁreaSpain2,368 records
  4. Thursley CommonUnited Kingdom2,146 records
  5. Paul da BarrocaPortugal2,130 records
  6. La Janda – ÁreaSpain1,987 records
  7. Lagoa dos SalgadosPortugal1,949 records

Countries and regions with the most records

SpainPortugalUnited KingdomIsraelIrelandGreeceGermanyFrance

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The European stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a subspecies of the common stonechat. Long considered a member of the thrush family, Turdidae, genetic evidence has placed it and its relatives in the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae. It is found across Europe, as far east as Ukraine and the South Caucasus, and in parts of North Africa.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the European Stonechat?

The European Stonechat is about 12–13 cm long and weighs around 15 g.

Where does the European Stonechat live?

Its breeding range: Palearctic: western, southern Europe and northern Africa. It is most often recorded in Spain, Portugal and United Kingdom.

When is the best time to see the European Stonechat?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October (Northern Hemisphere).

What does the European Stonechat eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the European Stonechat in?

It belongs to the family Chats, Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
12–13 cm
Weight
15 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Partial migrant
More measurements
Wing
65 mm
Tail
45 mm
Bill
15 mm
Tarsus
22 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Palearctic: western, southern Europe and northern Africa

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Chats, Old World Flycatchers Muscicapidae
Genus
Saxicola

Other birds in the genus Saxicola

Jerdon's Bush ChatJerdon's Bush ChatSaxicola jerdoniGrey Bush ChatGrey Bush ChatSaxicola ferreusWhinchatWhinchatSaxicola rubetraWhite-browed Bush ChatWhite-browed Bush ChatSaxicola macrorhynchusWhite-bellied Bush ChatWhite-bellied Bush ChatSaxicola gutturalisPied Bush ChatPied Bush ChatSaxicola caprataWhite-throated Bush ChatWhite-throated Bush ChatSaxicola insignisWhite-tailed StonechatWhite-tailed StonechatSaxicola leucurusAmur StonechatAmur StonechatSaxicola stejnegeriAfrican StonechatAfrican StonechatSaxicola torquatusReunion StonechatReunion StonechatSaxicola tectesSiberian StonechatSiberian StonechatSaxicola maurus
European Stonechat

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