Sentinel Rock Thrush (Monticola explorator)
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Sentinel Rock Thrush

Monticola explorator (Vieillot, 1818)

44 gWeight

The sentinel rock thrush (Monticola explorator) is a species of passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae that is found in Lesotho, South Africa, and Eswatini.

Busiest months: October · Most records: South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini

Near Threatened

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: October · Most records: South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini

Sentinel Rock Thrush has been recorded at 28 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 3 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Sani PassLesotho245 records
  2. Sani Pass (LS) to Black MountainsLesotho230 records
  3. Rooi-ElsSouth Africa192 records
More places
  1. Wakkerstroom areaSouth Africa134 records
  2. Suikerbosrand NRSouth Africa122 records
  3. Sani Pass (ZA) – low elevationSouth Africa99 records
  4. Black Mountains – EastLesotho54 records
  5. Black Mountains – WestLesotho46 records
  6. Wakkerstroom Wetland NRSouth Africa32 records
  7. Table Mt. NP – Cape Point SectionSouth Africa17 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaLesothoEswatini

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 sentinel rock thrush (Monticola explorator) is a species of passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae that is found in Lesotho, South Africa, and Eswatini.

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

Questions

How big is the Sentinel Rock Thrush?

The Sentinel Rock Thrush weighs around 44 g.

Where does the Sentinel Rock Thrush live?

Its breeding range: Africa: southern. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini.

When is the best time to see the Sentinel Rock Thrush?

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

Is the Sentinel Rock Thrush endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Sentinel Rock Thrush as Near Threatened.

What does the Sentinel Rock Thrush eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Sentinel Rock Thrush in?

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

At a glance

Weight
44 g
Habitat
Grassland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Varied
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Near Threatened
More measurements
Wing
100 mm
Tail
61 mm
Bill
23 mm
Tarsus
33 mm

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

Range

Africa: southern

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

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

Other birds in the genus Monticola

Blue-capped Rock ThrushBlue-capped Rock ThrushMonticola cinclorhynchaWhite-throated Rock ThrushWhite-throated Rock ThrushMonticola gularisChestnut-bellied Rock ThrushChestnut-bellied Rock ThrushMonticola rufiventrisShort-toed Rock ThrushShort-toed Rock ThrushMonticola brevipesAmber Mountain Rock ThrushAmber Mountain Rock ThrushMonticola erythronotusForest Rock ThrushForest Rock ThrushMonticola sharpeiLittoral Rock ThrushLittoral Rock ThrushMonticola imerinaLittle Rock ThrushLittle Rock ThrushMonticola rufocinereusCommon Rock ThrushCommon Rock ThrushMonticola saxatilisBlue Rock ThrushBlue Rock ThrushMonticola solitariusCape Rock ThrushCape Rock ThrushMonticola rupestrisMiombo Rock ThrushMiombo Rock ThrushMonticola angolensis
Sentinel Rock Thrush

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Brian Gratwicke. ↗

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