Littoral rock thrush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Littoral rock thrush |
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|---|---|
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| Adult male | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Monticola
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| Species: |
imerina
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| Synonyms | |
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Pseudocossyphus imerinus |
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The littoral rock thrush (Monticola imerina) is a special type of bird that belongs to the Muscicapidae family. This bird is found only in Madagascar, which means it is endemic to that island.
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About the Littoral Rock Thrush
The littoral rock thrush was first described in 1860 by a scientist named Gustav Hartlaub. He initially thought it was a different kind of bird, a robin-chat. This bird is unique because it doesn't have any different types or subspecies within its small home range.
What Does It Look Like?
Like other rock thrushes, the male and female littoral rock thrush look quite different. This is called being sexually dimorphic. The male bird has much brighter and more colorful plumage (feathers) than the female.
The male littoral rock thrush has a pale gray head, chest, back, and wing feathers. Its belly is a dull orange color. Its wings are gray-brown, and its tail is dark brown.
Where Does It Live?
The littoral rock thrush lives only in the southern coastal part of Madagascar. You can find it from the Onilahy River all the way to Lake Anony, which is west of Tôlanaro (also known as Fort Dauphin).
This bird likes to live in areas with euphorbia bushes and low shrubs. It prefers places with sandy ground or coral rag, which is a type of rough coral rock. It lives from sea level up to about 200 meters (656 feet) high.
Protecting the Littoral Rock Thrush
Even though the littoral rock thrush lives in a small area, its population seems to be steady. Because of this, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists it as a species of Least Concern. This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.
However, the scrubland where this bird lives is one of the most damaged habitats in Madagascar. Many of the places where these birds live are not in protected areas. Some of the things that threaten their home include:
- Clearing land for farming.
- Cutting down trees for firewood.
- Too many farm animals roaming around.
