Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush
Monticola saxatilis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyMuscicapidae (Papamosques del Vell Món)
- GenusMonticola (Rock-Thrushes)
- SpeciesMonticola saxatilis (Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush)
The common rock thrush (Monticola saxatilis), also known as the rufous-tailed rock thrush or simply rock thrush, is a species of chat that breeds in southern Europe across Central Asia to northern China. This species is strongly migratory, all populations wintering in Africa south of the Sahara. It is an uncommon visitor to northern Europe. Its range has contracted somewhat at the periphery in recent decades due to habitat destruction. For example, in the early 20th century it bred in the Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska (Poland) where none occur today, but it is not considered globally endangered. Wikipedia →
5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush sighting in Tsavo East National Park, based on 164 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Tsavo East National Park
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striata
Spotted Morning-Thrush
Cichladusa guttata
White-browed Scrub Robin
Erythropygia leucophrys
Bearded Scrub Robin
Erythropygia quadrivirgata
Redcap Robinchat
Cossypha natalensis
African Gray Flycatcher
Bradornis microrhynchus
Northern Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe
Pale Flycatcher
Bradornis pallidus
Ashy Alseonax
Muscicapa caerulescens
Isabelline Wheatear
Oenanthe isabellina
East Coast Akalat
Sheppardia gunningi
Rufous Bush Chat
Erythropygia galactotes
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
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
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush in Tsavo East National Park?
About 8% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush sighting in Tsavo East National Park, based on 164 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush in Tsavo East National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush in Tsavo East National Park in our monthly data.