Fuerteventura Chat

Fuerteventura chat
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae Genus: Saxicola Species: dacotiae
Binomial name
Saxicola dacotiae

The Fuerteventura Chat Saxicola dacotiae is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae. It, and similar small European species, are often called chatss.

It is resident and restricted to the island of Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands, where it breeds in sparsely vegetated ravines or slopes.

The Fuerteventura Chat is similar in size to the European Robin. Both sexes have a dark rump and tail.

In summer the male has dark brownish upperparts, orange throat and black head. It has strong white neck sides and a white supercilium. The appearance is like a cross between Whinchat and Stonechat. The female has paler brown upperparts and head, and no white neck patches.

The male has a clicking call and high twittering song like a Stonechat.

Other members of the genus include

• Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
• Stonechat, Saxicola torquata