Blue-capped Rock-thrush Monticola cinclorhynchus

Blue-capped Rock-thrush
Monticola cinclorhynchus

Shemgang, Bhutan
March 2008

The Blue-capped Rock-thrush breeds in the foothills of the Himalayas and winters in the Western Ghats and North Eastern Ghats of south India.

It breeds in oak and pine forest where it prefers areas of dense undergrowth and on rocky slopes with scattered trees. It is found mainly at between 900 and 2,000 metres.

The male has a blue crown and throat with a black mask, black back and black wings with a white wing patch. Underparts are rusty-orange as is the rump.

Female Blue-capped Rock-thrush, Shemgang, Bhutan, March 2008 - click for larger image

The female is totally different being grey-brown above and whitish below with heavy dark scaling.

It feeds on insects, worms, small lizards, berries and seeds.

There is a recording on xeno-canto and additional information is available on Avibase.

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