A female Common Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis pauses while foraging among the loess cliffs south of Gonghe (36.235963, 100.580918), Qinghai, China, July. The elevation here is 2840 m (9,310 ft.). Common Rock Thrush breeds Iberia and North Africa to China (Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia). Winters sub-Saharan Africa. Also known as Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush and in Europe simply as Rock Thrush. (Craig Brelsford)Common Rock Thrush M. saxatilis, male, Qinghai, July. White patch on back separates from Chestnut-bellied Rock ThrushM. rufiventris, Red-bellied Rock ThrushM. solitarius philippensis, and White-throated Rock ThrushM. gularis. (Craig Brelsford)Common Rock Thrush M. saxatilis, female, loess cliffs south of Gonghe (36.235963, 100.580918), Qinghai, elev. 2840 m (9,310 ft.), July. Female is shorter-tailed than female Blue Rock ThrushM. solitarius and inhabits higher elevations. (Craig Brelsford)
THE ROCK THRUSHES OF CHINA
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