African Stonechat
African StonechatAfrican StonechatAfrican StonechatAfrican Stonechat

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Silhouette: PhyloPic · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at South Luangwa National Park
30 Verified sightings at South Luangwa National Park From 2019 to 2026
6,232 Verified sightings across all 43 parks From 2019 to 2026
December Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the African Stonechat

The African stonechat or common stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) is a species of the Old World flycatcher family (Muscicapidae), inhabiting sub-Saharan Africa and adjacent regions. Like the other chats, it was long assigned to the thrush family (Turdidae), to which the chats are convergent. Its scientific name refer to its appearance and habitat and means "collared rock-dweller": Saxicola from Latin saxum ("rock") + incola ("one who dwells in a place"), torquatus, Latin for "collared".

In the past S. torquatus usually referred to the entire "common stonechat" superspecies and some sources still keep it that way, but all available evidence strongly supports full species status for the European (S. rubicola) and the Siberian stonechat (S. maurus) of temperate Eurasia, in addition to the island-endemics Fuerteventura chat (S. dacotiae) and Réunion stonechat (S. tectes) which were never unequivocally accepted into S. torquatus. The Madagascar stonechat (S. t. sibilla) has sometimes been considered distinct. In addition, the well-marked populations of the Horn of Africa uplands may well qualify for an additional species.

In 1760, the French zoologist Mathurin... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at South Luangwa National Park

White-browed Robin-Chat
LC

White-browed Robin-Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cossypha heuglini

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Ashy Alseonax

Ashy Alseonax

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Muscicapa caerulescens

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Southern Black Flycatcher
LC

Southern Black Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melaenornis pammelaina

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Collared Palmthrush
LC

Collared Palmthrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cichladusa arquata

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
White-browed Scrub Robin

White-browed Scrub Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Erythropygia leucophrys

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
African Dusky Flycatcher
LC

African Dusky Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Muscicapa adusta

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Familiar Chat
LC

Familiar Chat

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oenanthe familiaris

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Spotted Flycatcher
LC

Spotted Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Muscicapa striata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Grey Tit-Flycatcher

Grey Tit-Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myioparus plumbeus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Central Bearded Scrub Robin

Central Bearded Scrub Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Erythropygia barbata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Collared Flycatcher
LC

Collared Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ficedula albicollis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Miombo Rock-Thrush
LC

Miombo Rock-Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Monticola angolensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

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
~70%
2 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~50%
3 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~50%
4 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~40%
5 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~40%
6 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
7 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~20%
8 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
9 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~20%
10 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~20%
11 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~10%
12 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
13 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
14 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
15 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
16 Ranomafana National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~10%
17 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
18 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~10%
19 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
20 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
21 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
22 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
23 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
24 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
25 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
26 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
27 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
28 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
29 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
30 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
31 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
32 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
33 Ankarafantsika National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
Insufficient data
34 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
35 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
36 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
37 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
38 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
39 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
40 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
41 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
42 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
43 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a African Stonechat in South Luangwa National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a African Stonechat sighting in South Luangwa National Park, based on 30 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see African Stonechat in South Luangwa National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for African Stonechat in South Luangwa National Park in our monthly data.

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