Order:
Paseriformes
Family: Turdidae
Saxicola rubicola
Stonechat / Tarabilla común europea
Maximum size: 13 cm
Habitat
They can be seen in open-land areas, clearings, perching on branches,
bushes, scrubs, posts, electricity cables, signposts, any position they
can perch on in order to monitor and snap up their prey. They are very
trusting birds and they do not flee from human presence, although they
keep a sensible safety distance.
They can be seen near water sources, irrigation canals, pools and ponds,
as well as in non-irrigated, dry lands but with some water-source in the
vicinity.
They are distinctive due to their black-coloured head, reddish chest
with a white collar (males)
Young individuals are scarcely appealing, particularly so the females
which are brown-coloured.