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Blackstart

Cercomela melanura

Photo by gperocho
Published on Project Noah
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31.4512, 35.3836

Field Notes

Description:

is a chat found in desert regions in North Africa, the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula.

It is a 14–16 cm long bird named for its black tail, which is frequently fanned; the rest of its plumage is bluish-grey or grey-brown (North African races being browner, Middle Eastern races bluer). The sexes are similar, but the male on average has blacker lores. The song is a clear melancholy whistle: CHURlee...TRUloo...CHURlee...TRUlur..., with short phrases from the song used as a call.

It is a species of rocky deserts and mountain slopes which nests in a rock crevice where it lays its 3–5 eggs. It feeds on insects, taken mainly on the ground.

The Blackstart is a confident species, unafraid of man.

Habitat:

rocky deserts and mountain slopes

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
Ava T-B
Yes, I take back Blue Rock Thrush; this is a Blackstart as you say. Your pictures are great!
gperocho
@alice Thank you alice :-) @ava found it :-), yes i think it's time for me to buy guide books since im starting to shoot alot now :-) thanks
Ava T-B
I'm not entirely sure, but i think this may be a Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius). There are Birds of Israel, and Birds of the Middle East guide books, but if you're also going to travel in Europe, I'd suggest Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East by Jonsson.

Spotted for Missions

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Birds of the World
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Wildlife in Israel

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Photographed
PublishedJanuary 5, 2012

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