Blue Rock Thrush

By Charlie • January 14, 2008 • 4 comments

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius phillipensis
Choshi, Chiba, Japan. January 2006 and 2008

The Blue Rock Thrush is found from southern Europe, north Africa, and the Middle East right across Asia into China and Japan. It is found mainly along rocky coastlines and cliffs, in mountain valleys and in large ruined buildings.

Males of forms in the west of the range are all-blue (hence the common name) - those further east are red-bellied. All the birds pictured below were photographed in Japan, where the species is commonly found along the coast, and are the red-bellied form phillipensis. Females/immatures are typically brownish and heavily spotted on the underparts in all forms.

blue rock thrush

All photographs copyright Charlie Moores

Tags: japan, thrush

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About the Author

Charlie

Charlie works for an airline and has birded all over the world for twenty years. He wants to be a writer, and thinks no-one would believe his life could be so charmed if he didn't take photos of as many of the birds he sees as possible. Blogging with 10,000 Birds fits his aims, needs, and insecurities perfectly. Really - do birders get much more fortunate than this?

4 Responses to “Blue Rock Thrush”

Cheryl Fultz Feb 18th, 2009 at 4:01 am

Your photos of the roch thrush are great. Iwas just in Japan and saw them. DO you have a favorite spot to go to in Japan? We went to the Oi bird park. Any other place close to that or do we need to go down the coast?
Thanks in advance for the insight
charlie Feb 18th, 2009 at 5:57 am

Hi Cheryl

Thanks for the comment.

When you say “favourite spot” I’m not clear whether you mean around Tokyo, or in Japan as a whole? The Oi Bird Park is in Tokyo so if I assume that’s what you mean, I suggest you have a look at the following thread on BirdForum - it has all the info you could need!

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=16125

I you want to go out of Tokyo a little further, I go to Choshi fishing port when I get the chance. There’s a report on the blog at http://10000birds.com/gulling-in-japan-choshi-port-chiba.htm and at http://10000birds.com/hatsuhinode-the-first-sunrise-of-the-year.htm

Let me know if this is the info you’re after if you get the chance

Cheers

Charlie
Phil Oct 17th, 2009 at 9:13 am

Hi i’m after information on the Blue Rock Thrush, can it be found in Melbourne Australia.
Thanks Phil
Michael Lyons Jan 7th, 2010 at 6:14 am

One female for sure just possible there were two; 4 witnesses.
Eating fat and seeds,third day so far. Also eating apples and bread nearby. Scares off all blackbirds. Shropshire garden 550 feet and near higher,rockier land. Jan. 7th 2010.

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