Blue-capped Rock Thrush
Monticola cinclorhyncha
蓝头矶鸫
Introduction
A species in the family Muscicapidae. It breeds in dense forests across the Himalayas and winters in the lowlands of southern India. The species is characterized by strong seasonal migration between high-altitude breeding grounds and lowland wintering areas. When disturbed, it exhibits typical thrush behavior by flying up into trees and remaining motionless.
Description
The male has a blue head, chin, and throat. The upper parts are blue and black. The rump and underparts are chestnut brown. A white wing patch is visible during flight. The female is brown overall with a brown and white patterned underside.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds in the Himalayas from Pakistan to Arunachal Pradesh, also occurring in parts of Afghanistan. Summer habitat includes pine forests and hill slopes. Winters in southern India, primarily in the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, where it inhabits dense canopied forests.
Behavior & Ecology
Like other thrushes, it flies up into trees and sits motionless when disturbed. This cryptic behavior serves as its primary defense mechanism. The species is a long-distance migrant between Himalayan breeding grounds and southern Indian wintering areas.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Monticola
- eBird Code
- bcrthr1
Distribution
breeds mountains of eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan and India; winters to Myanmar
Data Sources
CBR Notes: 2023年9月19日，西藏日喀则，范仕祥，学名由Monticola cinclorhynchus修订为Monticola cinclorhyncha
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.