White-tailed stonechat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-tailed stonechat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Saxicola
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| Species: |
leucurus
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The White-tailed Stonechat (Saxicola leucurus) is a small, pretty bird. It belongs to the Muscicapidae family, which includes Old World flycatchers. You can find this bird in countries like Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Contents
What Does the White-tailed Stonechat Look Like?
The White-tailed Stonechat looks a lot like the european stonechat. The male White-tailed Stonechat has a black head and a white collar. It also has a bright reddish-brown patch on its chest. Its back and wings are dark. You can see white feathers on its wing covers and near its tail.
A special way to tell it apart is its tail. When the bird spreads its tail, you can see white on the inside of the outer tail feathers. This is often seen when the bird is flying or landing. However, this white part might not be visible when the tail is folded.
The female White-tailed Stonechat looks much like the female European Stonechat. But she is generally lighter in color. Her rump, tail, and wings are also a bit duller.
Where Do White-tailed Stonechats Live?
White-tailed Stonechats live in wet, marshy areas. They prefer places with tall grass, reeds, and tamarisk plants. These birds live all year round in these habitats. You can find them in the plains of Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. They also live in North, Central, and Eastern parts of India. This includes areas up to the South Assam Hills and Manipur.
Sometimes, these birds move short distances. They do this based on how much water is available. They might also move to find good places to breed.
How Do White-tailed Stonechats Behave?
Like other stonechats, these birds catch their food in a special way. They often drop to the ground from a perch to grab insects. They might also make short flights to catch prey. You will usually find them in loose pairs. It is rare to see them alone.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
The main breeding season for the White-tailed Stonechat is from March to May. During this time, they build their nests. The nest is shaped like a cup. They make it in natural dips on the ground. They often hide their nests among plants like lotuses or tamarisk.
