African Stonechat
African StonechatAfrican StonechatAfrican StonechatAfrican Stonechat

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Bale Mountains National Park
35 Verified records at Bale Mountains National Park
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The African stonechat or common stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) is a species of the Old World flycatcher family (Muscicapidae), inhabiting sub-Saharan Africa and adjacent regions. Like the other chats, it was long assigned to the thrush family (Turdidae), to which the chats are convergent. Its scientific name refer to its appearance and habitat and means "collared rock-dweller": Saxicola from Latin saxum ("rock") + incola ("one who dwells in a place"), torquatus, Latin for "collared". In the past S. torquatus usually referred to the entire "common stonechat" superspecies and some sources still keep it that way, but all available evidence strongly supports full species status for the European (S. rubicola) and the Siberian stonechat (S. maurus) of temperate Eurasia, in addition to the island-endemics Fuerteventura chat (S. dacotiae) and Réunion stonechat (S. tectes) which were never unequivocally accepted into S. torquatus. The Madagascar stonechat (S. t. sibilla) has sometimes been considered distinct. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a African Stonechat sighting in Bale Mountains National Park, based on 35 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Bale Mountains National Park

Whinchat
LC

Whinchat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Saxicola rubetra

Insufficient data
Moorland Chat
LC

Moorland Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pinarochroa sordida

70–80% · Very likely
Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher

Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dioptrornis chocolatinus

40–50% · Likely
African Dusky Flycatcher
LC

African Dusky Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Muscicapa adusta

30–40% · Possible
Rüppell's Robin-Chat
LC

Rüppell's Robin-Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cossypha semirufa

30–40% · Possible
Red-breasted Wheatear
LC

Red-breasted Wheatear

Bird

Oenanthe bottae

10–20% · With luck
Isabelline Wheatear
LC

Isabelline Wheatear

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe isabellina

<5% · Rare
Pied Wheatear
LC

Pied Wheatear

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe pleschanka

Insufficient data
African Gray Flycatcher
LC

African Gray Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bradornis microrhynchus

Insufficient data
Pale Flycatcher

Pale Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bradornis pallidus

Insufficient data
White-browed Robin-Chat
LC

White-browed Robin-Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cossypha heuglini

Insufficient data
Spotted Flycatcher
LC

Spotted Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Muscicapa striata

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

30–40
Jan
20–30
Feb
20–30
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
10–20
Jun
10–20
Jul
10–20
Aug
10–20
Sep
30–40
Oct
20–30
Nov
5–10
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
40–50%
2 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
40–50%
3 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
40–50%
4 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
30–40%
5 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
6 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
20–30%
7 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
8 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
20–30%
9 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
20–30%
10 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
10–20%
11 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
12 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
13 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
10–20%
14 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
15 Ranomafana National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
10–20%
16 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
17 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
10–20%
18 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
19 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
20 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
21 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
22 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
23 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
5–10%
24 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
25 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
26 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
27 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
28 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
29 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
30 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
31 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
32 Ankarafantsika National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
Insufficient data
33 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
34 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
35 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
36 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
37 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
38 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
39 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
40 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
41 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
42 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a African Stonechat in Bale Mountains National Park?

About 21% of wildlife watchers report a African Stonechat sighting in Bale Mountains National Park, based on 35 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see African Stonechat in Bale Mountains National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for African Stonechat in Bale Mountains National Park in our monthly data.

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