10,000 Birds

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.

 

 

 

 

 

All photographs copyright Charlie Moores