General

Stonechat: Small thrush with black back and white rump. Underparts are white except for orange breast. Head is black and collar is white. Wings are black with white stripes. Tail is black. Female and juvenile are duller.

Range and Habitat

Stonechat: Casual to accidental on islands off the coast of Alaska. Common in Siberia. Found in dry grasslands, moors, damp meadows, and hills.

Breeding and Nesting

Stonechat: Five to eight green blue eggs marked with red brown are laid in a nest made of grass, moss, plant stems, and wool, lined with hair, wool, and feathers, and built in deep grass, heather, or under a bush. Incubation ranges from 14 to 15 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Stonechat: Forages for insects on the ground, also gleans from vegetation.

Readily Eats

Raisins, Currants, Nut Meal

Vocalization

Stonechat: Song is a harsh "tchack", like two stones being struck together. Call is a short, squeaky "tsk-tsk-tsk." Also has a variable twittering trill.

Similar Species

Stonechat: None in range.