Silhouette: Martin Bulla, based on François Desbordes' illustration · PhyloPic

Blue Rock-Thrush

Monticola solitarius

Silhouette: Martin Bulla, based on François Desbordes' illustration · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyMuscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers, Robins, and Chats)
GenusMonticola (Rock-Thrushes)
SpeciesMonticola solitarius (Blue Rock-Thrush)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Minneriya National Park

2 Verified sightings at Minneriya National Park From 2019 to 2026

4,337 Verified sightings across all 46 parks From 2019 to 2026

🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted at dawn and dusk

About the Blue Rock-Thrush

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.

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. The type locality is Italy. The scientific name is from Latin. Monticola is from mons, montis "mountain", and colere, "to dwell", and the specific epithet solitarius means "solitary".

The rock thrush genus Monticola was formerly placed in the family Turdidae 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.

There are five recognised subspecies: 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... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Minneriya National Park

Saxicoloides fulicatus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Copsychus saularis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Cyornis tickelliae

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Muscicapa latirostris

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Muscicapa muttui

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Luscinia brunnea

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Leptocoma zeylonica

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Oriolus xanthornus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Anthus rufulus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Corvus macrorhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Turdoides affinis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Aegithina tiphia

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Monfragüe National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~30%
2	Khao Yai National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~30%
3	Royal Manas National Park	🇧🇹 Bhutan	~10%
4	Doi Inthanon National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~10%
5	Jiuzhaigou National Park	🇨🇳 China	~10%
6	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~10%
7	Sierra Nevada National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~10%
8	Namdapha National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
9	Khao Sok National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	<5%
10	Mudumalai National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
11	Sierra de Guadarrama National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	<5%
12	Picos de Europa National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	<5%
13	Pyrénées National Park	🇫🇷 France	<5%
14	Manas National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
15	Taroko National Park	🇹🇼 Taiwan	<5%
16	Satpura National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
17	Bandhavgarh National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
18	Jim Corbett National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
19	Cévennes National Park	🇫🇷 France	<5%
20	Periyar National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
21	Kaziranga National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
22	Keoladeo National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
23	Aigüestortes National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	<5%
24	Sundarbans National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
25	Kanha National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
26	Kaeng Krachan National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	<5%
27	Eravikulam National Park	🇮🇳 India	Insufficient data
28	Bandipur National Park	🇮🇳 India	Insufficient data
29	Ecrins National Park	🇫🇷 France	Insufficient data
30	Gunung Leuser National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Insufficient data
31	Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	Insufficient data
32	Minneriya National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	Insufficient data
33	Royal Bardia National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	Insufficient data
34	Khangchendzonga National Park	🇮🇳 India	Insufficient data
35	Langtang National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	Insufficient data
36	Nikko National Park	🇯🇵 Japan	Insufficient data
37	Tangkoko Nature Reserve	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Insufficient data
38	Chitwan National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	Insufficient data
39	Cuc Phuong National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	Insufficient data
40	Taman Negara National Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Insufficient data
41	Nagarhole National Park	🇮🇳 India	Insufficient data
42	Khao Luang National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	Insufficient data
43	Cat Tien National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	Insufficient data
44	Mercantour National Park	🇫🇷 France	Insufficient data
45	Raja Ampat	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Insufficient data
46	Ranthambore National Park	🇮🇳 India	Insufficient data

← Back to Minneriya National Park

Blue Rock-Thrush

About the Blue Rock-Thrush

Recent sightings of Blue Rock-Thrush in Minneriya National Park

Closest Relatives at Minneriya National Park

Indian Robin

Oriental Magpie-Robin

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Brown-breasted Flycatcher

Indian Blue Robin

Purple-rumped Sunbird

Black-hooded Oriole

Oriental Pipit

Large-billed Crow

Yellow-billed Babbler

Common Iora

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found