Sentinel Rock-Thrush
Monticola explorator
Silhouette: Martin Bulla, based on François Desbordes' illustration · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyMuscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers, Robins, and Chats)
- GenusMonticola (Rock-Thrushes)
- SpeciesMonticola explorator (Sentinel Rock-Thrush)
About the Sentinel Rock-Thrush
The sentinel rock thrush (Monticola explorator) is a species of passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae that is found in Lesotho, South Africa, and Eswatini. Its natural habitat is rocky outcrops in high-altitude grassland.
It is insectivorous. The sentinel rock thrush was formally described in 1818 by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot under the binomial name Turdus explorator. The specific epithet explorator is Latin meaning "scout", "explorer" or "searcher". Vieillot based his account on "L'Espionneur" from the mountains of the Cape of Good Hope that had been described and illustrated in 1802 by the French naturalist François Levaillant in his book Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux d'Afrique. The sentinel rock thrush is now one of 15 species placed in the genus Monticola that was introduced in 1822 by the German naturalist Friedrich Boie. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Sentinel Rock-Thrush in iSimangaliso Wetland Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Redcap Robinchat
Cossypha natalensis
Brown Scrub Robin
Erythropygia signata
Ashy Alseonax
Muscicapa caerulescens
African Stonechat
Saxicola torquatus
African Dusky Flycatcher
Muscicapa adusta
Southern Black Flycatcher
Melaenornis pammelaina
White-browed Scrub Robin
Erythropygia leucophrys
Bearded Scrub Robin
Erythropygia quadrivirgata
Fiscal Flycatcher
Sigelus silens
Pale Flycatcher
Bradornis pallidus
Grey Tit-Flycatcher
Myioparus plumbeus
White-Throated Robin-Chat
Cossypha humeralis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Gate Highlands National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 5 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |