{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{Speciesbox | name = Blue rock thrush | image = Monticola solitarius, Spain 1.jpg | image_caption = Male ''M. s. solitarius'' | image2 = Monticola solitarius 29-August-2015.jpg | image2_caption = Female ''M. s. solitarius'' | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Monticola solitarius'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T22708286A87933903 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22708286A87933903.en |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Monticola | species = solitarius | authority = (Linnaeus, 1758) | synonyms = ''Turdus solitarius'' {{small|Linnaeus, 1758}} | range_map = MonticolaSolitariusIUCNver2019 1.png | range_map_caption = Range of ''M. solitarius''{{leftlegend|#00FF00|Breeding|outline=gray}} {{leftlegend|#008000|Resident|outline=gray}} {{leftlegend|#00FFFF|Passage|outline=gray}} {{leftlegend|#007FFF|Non-breeding|outline=gray}} {{leftlegend|#FF00FF|Vagrant (seasonality uncertain)|outline=gray}} }}
The '''blue rock thrush''' ('''''Monticola solitarius''''') is a species of chat. This thrush-like Old World flycatcher was formerly placed in the family Turdidae. It breeds in southern Europe, northwest Africa, and from Central Asia to northern China and Malaysia. The blue rock thrush is the official national bird of Malta.
==Taxonomy== The blue rock thrush was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the 10th edition of his ''Systema Naturae'' under the binomial name ''Turdus solitarius''.<ref>{{cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=C. | author-link= Carl Linnaeus | title=Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata | location=Holmiae (Stockholm) | publisher=Laurentii Salvii | year=1758 | volume=1 | language=la | page=170| url= https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/727077 }}</ref> The type locality is Italy.<ref>{{ cite book | last1=Mayr | first1=Ernst | last2=Paynter Jr.| first2=Raymond A. | year=1964 | title=Check-list of Birds of the World | volume=10 | publisher=Museum of Comparative Zoology | place=Cambridge, Massachusetts | page=138 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14486327 }}</ref> The scientific name is from Latin. ''Monticola'' is from ''mons, montis'' "mountain", and ''colere'', "to dwell", and the specific epithet ''solitarius'' means "solitary".<ref name ="job">{{cite book | last= Jobling | first= James A. | year= 2010| title= The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | url= https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling | publisher=Christopher Helm | location = London, United Kingdom | isbn = 978-1-4081-2501-4 | pages=260, 359}}</ref>
The rock thrush genus ''Monticola'' was formerly placed in the family Turdidae<ref name="hbw">{{ cite book | last=Collar | first=N.J. | year=2005 | chapter=Family Turdidae (Thrushes) | editor1-last=del Hoyo | editor1-first=J. | editor2-last=Elliott | editor2-first=A. | editor3-last=Christie | editor3-first=D.A. | title=Handbook of the Birds of the World | volume=10: Cuckoo-shrikes to Thrushes | location=Barcelona, Spain | publisher=Lynx Edicions | isbn=978-84-87334-72-6 | pages=514-807 [515] | chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofbirdso0010unse/page/515/mode/1up | chapter-url-access=registration }}</ref> but molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that the species in the genus are more closely related to members of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae.<ref name="sangster2010">{{ cite journal | last1=Sangster | first1=G. | last2=Alström | first2=P. | last3=Forsmark | first3=E. | last4=Olsson | first4=U. | year=2010 | title=Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of Old World chats and flycatchers reveals extensive paraphyly at family, subfamily and genus level (Aves: Muscicapidae) | journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume=57 | issue=1 | pages=380–392 | doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2010.07.008 | pmid=20656044| bibcode=2010MolPE..57..380S }}</ref>
There are five recognised subspecies:<ref name="ioc">{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | year=2016 | title=Chats, Old World flycatchers | work=World Bird List Version 6.2 | url=http://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/chats/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union| access-date=20 May 2016 }}</ref><ref name="bow">{{cite book| last1=Collar | first1=N. | chapter=Blue Rock-thrush (''Monticola solitarius'') | editor1-last=del Hoyo | editor1-first=J. | editor2-last=Elliott | editor2-first=A. | editor3-last=Sargatal | editor3-first=J. | editor4-last=Christie | editor4-first=D.A. | editor5-last=de Juana | editor5-first=E. | title=Birds of the World | year=2020 | publisher=Lynx Edicions | doi=10.2173/bow.burthr.01 | s2cid=216233603 | chapter-url=http://www.hbw.com/node/58415 | access-date= 9 July 2016}}{{subscription required}}</ref>
* ''M. s. solitarius'' (Linnaeus, 1758) – northwest Africa, south Europe, north Turkey to Georgia and Azerbaijan. * ''M. s. longirostris'' (Blyth, 1847) – Greece and west and south Turkey through the Middle East to the northwest Himalayas to northeast Africa and India * ''M. s. pandoo'' (Sykes, 1832) – central Himalayas to east China and north Vietnam to Greater Sunda Islands * ''M. s. philippensis'' (Statius Müller, 1776) – east Mongolia to Sakhalin south to Japan, extreme north Philippines and northeast China to Indonesia * ''M. s. madoci'' Chasen, 1940 – Malay Peninsula and north Sumatra
There is a proposal to split ''Monticola solitarius'' into two species. The ground work for this was two papers published in 2004 and 2007. The 2004 paper by Voelker and Spellman laid the groundwork at the genus and family level, ''Muscicapidae''.<ref name="voelker2004">{{cite journal |last1=Voelker |first1=Gary |last2=Spellman |first2=Garth M. |date=February 2004 |title=Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA evidence of polyphyly in the avian superfamily Muscicapoidea|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=30|issue=2 |pages=386–394|doi=10.1016/s1055-7903(03)00191-x|pmid=14715230}}</ref> The 2007 paper by Outlaw and Voelker refined monophyly and phylogeny.<ref name="outlaw2007">{{cite journal |last1=Outlaw |first1=Robert K. |last2=Voelker |first2=Gary|last3=Outlaw |first3=Diana C. |date=April 2007 |title=Molecular Systematics and Historical Biogeography of the Rock-Thrushes (Muscicapidae: Monticola) |journal=The Auk|volume=124|issue=2 |pages=561–577 |doi=10.1093/auk/124.2.561}}</ref> The first formal proposal for the split was in 2010 by Zuccon and Ericson, which proposed a western taxon comprising ''M. s. solitarius'' and ''M. s. longirostris'' and an eastern taxon with ''M. s. philippensis'', ''M. s. pandoo'' and ''M. s. madoci'' Zuccon and Ericson proposed the two species names be ''M. solitarius s.s.'' and ''M. philippensis''.<ref name="zuccon2010">{{cite journal | last1=Zuccon | first1=D. | last2=Ericson | first2=Per G.P. | year=2010 | title=The ''Monticola'' rock-thrushes: phylogeny and biogeography revisited | journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume=55 | issue=3 | pages=901–910 | doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2010.01.009 | pmid=20079862| bibcode=2010MolPE..55..901Z }}</ref> As of early 2026 there is still no agreement on the split, a major reason being that the five subspecies can interbreed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/burthr/cur/introduction|title=Blue Rock Thrush|publisher=Birds of the World|date=4 March 2020|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?avibaseid=D252045796DEAC34|title=Blue Rock Thrush (solitarius)|publisher=AviBase|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref>
thumb|center|Male blue rock thrush of subspecies ''M. s. philippensis'' showing rufous underbelly
==Description== The blue rock thrush is a starling-sized bird, {{convert|21|–|23|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length with a long slim bill. The breeding male of the nominate subspecies is unmistakable, with all blue-grey plumage apart from its darker wings.<ref name="hbw"/> Females and immatures are much less striking, with dark brown upperparts, and paler brown scaly underparts. The male of the subspecies ''M. s. philippensis'' has rufous-chestnut plumage from the mid-breast down to the undertail.<ref name="hbw"/> Both sexes lack the reddish outer tail feathers of rock thrush.
===Vocalizations=== {{Birdsong | url = https://xeno-canto.org/species/Monticola-solitarius | species = the blue rock thrush | image = イソヒヨドリ.jpg}} The male blue rock thrush sings a clear, melodious call that is similar to, but louder than, the call of the rock thrush.<ref name="saiya">{{cite web|title=Indonesian bird vocalizations: the Blue Rock-Thrush (Monticola solitarius philippensis)|doi=10.13140/RG.2.2.30061.61928|date=August 2020|last1=Saiya|first1= Halvina|last2=Verboom|first2=Willem|publisher=Research Gate|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343697242_Indonesian_bird_vocalizations_the_Blue_Rock-Thrush_Monticola_solitarius_philippensis|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="boesman">{{cite web|url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/ornith-notes/JN100331|title=Notes on the vocalizations of Blue Rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius)|publisher=Birds of the World|date=28 July 2016|last=Boesman |first=Peter F. D. |access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref>
The Europe and Asia groups both have a "short song and a long song, consisting of similar melodious whistles, trills and more burry notes."<ref name="boesman"/> Generally, the vocalizations are similar in both groups. Basic sound traits generally overlap, such as phrase duration, note length, and min./max. frequency. Several notes are identical. The long song is a bit more common in the Asia group.<ref name="hbw"/><ref name="boesman"/> Among populations in Indonesia, there are four basic calls. "The fundamental call frequency appeared to be concentrated around 1.6 kHz, but weak components of the spectrum reached to approximately 4 kHz. The structure of the four call types was quite different: 1) the shape of the spectra differed considerably; 2) the frequency of maximum sound energy was between 1.2 and 1.8 kHz; 3) the duration of the calls varied between 200 and 1500 ms; 4) the-10dB bandwidth was in the range between 900 Hz and 1300 Hz."<ref name="saiya"/>
===Similar species=== ''Monticola'' is a monophyletic clade as all member species share a common ancestor. ''M. solitarius'' are especially similar to:<ref name="outlaw2007"/> Blue-capped rock thrush (''M. cinclorhynchus'', distinguished by a bright blue head and chestnut belly),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ebird.org/species/bcrthr1|title=Blue-capped Rock-Thrush|publisher=eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology|accessdate=19 January 2026}}</ref> Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush (''M. rufiventris'', distinguished by a chestnut belly),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ebird.org/species/cbrthr1|title=Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush|publisher=eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology|accessdate=19 January 2026}}</ref> Common rock thrush-also known as Rufous-tailed rock thrush (''M. saxatilis'', distinguished by blue-grey head, white back patch, chestnut belly),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ebird.org/species/rtrthr1|title=Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush|publisher=eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology|accessdate=19 January 2026}}</ref> Little rock thrush (''M. rufocinereus'', distinguished by blue-grey upper and orange belly),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ebird.org/species/lirthr1|title=Little Rock-Thrush|publisher=eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology|accessdate=19 January 2026}}</ref> and White-throated rock thrush (''M. gularis'', distinguished by blue head, orange belly, and white patch on black wings).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ebird.org/species/wtrthr1|title=White-throated Rock Thrush|publisher=eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology|accessdate=19 January 2026}}</ref>
==Distribution and habitat== The European, north African and southeast Asian birds are mainly resident, apart from altitudinal movements. Other Asian populations are more migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa, India and southeast Asia. This bird is a very uncommon visitor to northern and western Europe. There is some overlap in breeding and wintering ranges with the common rock thrush (''Monticola saxatilis''); Palearctic and southwestern Asia for breeding and northern Africa for wintering.<ref name="outlaw">{{cite journal|journal=The Auk|title=Molecular Systematics and Historical Biogeography of the Rock-Thrushes (Muscicapidae: ''Monticola'')|last1=Outlaw|first1=Robert K.|last2=Voelker|first2=Gary|last3=Outlaw|first3= Diana C.|volume=124|issue= 2|date=1 April 2007 |page=563 |doi=10.1093/auk/124.2.561}}</ref> It is known to have been spotted in North America twice: once in British Columbia in 1997 and once in Oregon and the Farallon Islands in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/oregon-teacher-captures-images-very-rare-bird-never-before-seen-us|title=Oregon teacher captures images of 'very rare' bird never before seen in US|website=Fox News|last=Eichenberg |first=Gretchen|date=May 1, 2024|access-date= 1 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/extremely-rare-blue-rock-thrush-spotted-in-oregon-might-be-the-first-ever-in-the-united-states-180984256/|title=Extremely Rare Blue Rock Thrush Spotted in Oregon Might Be the First Ever in the United States|website=Smithsonian Magazine|last=Kuta|first=Sarah|date=May 1, 2024|access-date= 1 May 2024}}</ref> It is unclear whether the Oregon and Farallon Islands spottings were the same bird.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bowman |first=Emma |date= 3 May 2024 |title=Hobbyist photographer snaps photo of extremely rare bird in 1st U.S. sighting |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/05/03/1248845648/rare-bird-oregon-blue-rock-thrush |access-date= 31 August 2025 |work=National Public Radio|language=en}}</ref> It is highly unlikely that the British Columbia sighting was the same individual bird as the Oregon/Farallon Islands sighting as the blue rock thrush typically lives 5-10 years in the wild.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://birdfact.com/birds/blue-rock-thrush|title=Blue Rock-thrush|publisher=Bird Fact|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref>
Choi, et al., conducted a study of blue rock thrush population on Hongdo Island, South Korea from 2005-2009. The species arrives in spring and disappeared in autumn, indicating that the Hongdo population is migratory rather than resident. Breeding density was estimated at about 8 breeding pairs per km², and individual territories averaged about 2.87 hectares. The species showed a strong preference for rocky cliffs for their homes, especially exposed rock faces. They concluded habitat structure was more important than food availabity.<ref name="choi">{{cite journal|last=Choi|first=Chang-Yong|display-authors=etal|year=2011|title=Migration and habitat use of breeding Blue Rock Thrushes on Hongdo Island, Korea|journal=Korean Journal of Ornithology|volume=18|issue=1|pages= 17–33|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274072671_Migration_and_Habitat_Use_of_Breeding_Blue_Rock_Thrushes_on_Hongdo_Island_Korea|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref>
In the first confirmed case of successful urban nest by ''M. solitarius'', Rouibi, et al., conducted a study of ''M. solitarius'' in El Bouni, Algeria over three breeding seasons from 2016- 2018. They found the species made a nest beneath the roof of a residential building, which is very different from its usual rocky cliffs, escarpments, and coastal outcrops.<ref name="rouibi">{{cite journal|last=Rouibi|first=Abdelhakim|display-authors=etal |year=2020| title=Nesting of Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) in an urban area in North Africa|journal=International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies|volume=7|issue=1|pages= 78–82|url=https://www.faunajournal.com/archives/2020.v7.i1.B.665/nesting-of-blue-rock-thrush-monticola-solit3arius-in-an-urban-area-in-north-africa|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref> Pairs have also been found living in urban areas in Malta.<ref name="fenech">{{cite journal|title=Blue Rock Thrush urban expansion Malta|last1=Fenech|first1= Natalino|last2=Sammut|first2=Michael|date=2022|journal=U.D.I. via Research Gate|volume=47|pages=23-6|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375633438_Blue_Rock_Thrush_urban_expansion_Malta|access-date=19 January 2026}}</ref>
==Behaviour== The blue rock thrush breeds in open mountainous areas. It nests in rock cavities and walls, and usually lays 3–5 eggs. An omnivore, the blue rock thrush eats a wide variety of insects and small reptiles in addition to berries and seeds.<ref name="hbw"/>
==In culture== The blue rock thrush is deeply imbedded in Maltese culture (the word for it in Maltese being ''Merill''). It became the national bird in 1971. It was on the Lm 1 coins that were part of the country's former currency.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://era.org.mt/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/BioSnippet_23-Blue_Rock_Thrush.pdf|format=PDF|title=Blue Rock Thrush|journal=BioSnippet|publisher=Environment & Resources Authority|year=2019|volume=23|issue=9|access-date=29 July 2025}}</ref> It has also inspired place names, songs, stamps, cartoons, poems and literature, and old expressions about talkativeness. It is also the name of a high income fund and a child care center.<ref name="fenech"/>
==Gallery== <gallery widths="200px" heights="200px"> Blue rock thrush (male) at Gamla Nature Reserve.jpg|Male in January, Gamla Nature Reserve, Israel Monticola solitarius solitarius MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.190.1.jpg|''Monticola solitarius solitarius'' – MHNT Blue Rock Thrush - Kanagawa-Japan April 2024.webm|Male foraging in Japan </gallery>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Monticola solitarius}} * [http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/blue-rock-thrush-monticola-solitarius Blue rock thrush videos, photos & sounds] on the Internet Bird Collection * [https://web.archive.org/web/20141202064934/http://aulaenred.ibercaja.es/wp-content/uploads/342_BlueRockThrushMsolitarius.pdf Ageing and sexing by Javier Blasco-Zumeta & Gerd-Michael Heinze] * [http://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Monticola-solitarius Xeno-canto: audio recordings of the blue rock thrush]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q152144}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Category:Birds described in 1758 Category:Birds of Eurasia Category:Chats (birds) Category:Monticola Category:National symbols of Malta Category:Wintering birds of Africa Category:Wintering birds of Indomalaya