European Stonechat
Saxicola rubicola
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyMuscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers, Robins, and Chats)
- GenusSaxicola (Stonechats and Bushchats)
- SpeciesSaxicola rubicola (European Stonechat)
About the European Stonechat
The European stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a subspecies of the common stonechat. Long considered a member of the thrush family, Turdidae, genetic evidence has placed it and its relatives in the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae. It is found across Europe, as far east as Ukraine and the South Caucasus, and in parts of North Africa.
The European stonechat was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1766 in the twelfth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Motacilla rubicola. This species is now placed in the genus Saxicola that was introduced by the German naturalist Johann Matthäus Bechstein in 1802. The English name derives from its call, sounding like two stones knocked together. The scientific name Saxicola means "rock-dweller", from Latin saxum meaning "a rock" and incola meaning "dwelling in". The specific epithet combines the Latin rubus meaning "brambles" with incola. The subspecies name hibernans refers to Ireland (Latin, Hibernia).
In the past, the European stonechat was generally considered conspecific with the Siberian stonechat and African stonechat... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Camargue
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetra
Common Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
European Robin
Erithacus rubecula
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochruros
European Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleuca
Desert Wheatear
Oenanthe deserti
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Northern Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striata
Isabelline Wheatear
Oenanthe isabellina
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecica
Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush
Monticola saxatilis
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a European Stonechat in Camargue?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a European Stonechat sighting in Camargue, based on 120 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see European Stonechat in Camargue?
November has the highest sighting rate for European Stonechat in Camargue in our monthly data.