Fun Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush Facts For Kids

Ritika Shukla
Aug 29, 2023 By Ritika Shukla
Originally Published on Sep 02, 2021
Edited by Katherine Cook
Chestnut-bellied rock thrush facts for kids are interesting.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 7.1 Min

The chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) is an Old World bird found in countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and Thailand. This bird is based in the temperate regions of the world. Its binomial name is Monticola rufiventris, which was given by Jardine-Selby 1833. Primarily found in East Asia, this bird is confined to the northern regions and does not like shady areas. It is an aerial, fly-catching bird with an audacious and aggressive temperament with the help of which it tends to confront birds bigger than itself. The chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) typically sits with a perky, upright posture, slowly rocking its tail up and down. They are one of the most excellent songsters of the Passeriforme order, family Muscicapidae and their sound can be described as low-spirited songs. Largely terrestrial, the chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) is found to be active in the lower levels of forest. They are mountain dwellers who have an inclination towards areas with a suitable supply of trees, from dense forest to open scrub.

With respect to appearances, the chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) is quite an attractive bird. The male is a bright, colorful bird, whereas the female is of a grayish-brown shade with a layer of white spots that details its torso. The IUCN gave this bird of the order Passeriformes the status Least Concern in 2012.

Find this article intriguing? Check out some more fun bird facts about the greater sage grouse and blue jay.

Chestnut-Bellied Rock Thrush Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a chestnut-bellied rock thrush?

The chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) falls into the Muscicapidae family of birds. These birds are in the Passeriformes order, family Muscicapidae. Other names for this bird are chats or Old World flycatchers.

What class of animal does a chestnut-bellied rock thrush belong to?

The chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) is a bird. Also known as a rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris), it is a species of bird that falls into the Passeriformes order, family Muscicapidae.

How many chestnut-bellied rock thrushes are there in the world?

The range map of the 2012 listed Least Concern bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) is extremely vast and the degree of occurrence may stretch to 2,003,870 sq mi (5,190,000 sq km). There is no available data that details the exact number of this bird species in the world. The family of the chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) includes 51 genera and is divided into 324 species.

Where does a chestnut-bellied rock thrush live?

The chestnut-bellied rock thrush range map spreads mostly across the northern regions of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Tibet, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Vietnam and Fang district of Thailand. In India, the chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) can be located in the  Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, the northern regions of the Himalayas and in the state of Uttarakhand. The chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) may not be found as abundantly in other sites of the world as in India.  

What is a chestnut-bellied rock thrush's habitat?

Being birds of the old world, the natural habitat of the chestnut-bellied rock thrush bird is any temperate forest with rocky areas. Since they are mountainous birds, they perch on coastal slopes and cliffs, when not looking around for food. The chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) can also be spotted on roadsides that border forests and can be spotted by pedestrians from a distance.

Who do chestnut-bellied rock thrushes live with?

Although the chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) is a fairly solitary bird, it shares the same habitat with many diverse species since it is located in the wild. Its natural home is shared by popular species like magpies, woodpeckers, jays, tits, robins, and other members of the flycatcher family.

How long does a chestnut-bellied rock thrush live?

The exact lifespan of a chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) bird is not known, however, an average rock thrush lives up to five years. They even migrate nocturnally. With the help of data collected by IUCN in 2012, this bird was listed as a species of Least Concern.  

How do they reproduce?

Like most birds, the chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) is oviparous. In the case of the blue rock thrush, females lay about five spotted eggs of a greenish-gray shade in a cup-shaped nest held together with the help of grass, plant stems, bark, moss, and rootlets. The nest may be built in a crevice of a tree or under the projection of a cliff, usually 6.6-16.4 ft (2-5 m) above the ground. The eggs are incubated by the female bird for 14-16 days until the nestlings hatch. The male birds protect the nest.

What is their conservation status?

Based on a 2012 search, the data showed that this species of bird is listed as a species of Least Concern under the IUCN Red List. The chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) bird that falls under the Passeriformes order, family Muscicapidae enjoys a status wherein it does not require assistance with conservation as of now.

Chestnut-Bellied Rock Thrush Fun Facts

What do chestnut-bellied rock thrushes look like?

The chestnut-bellied rock thrush colors vary drastically across the male and female species. They are a unique species where the males and females look completely different. These birds have a vibrant rusty orange underbelly which gives them the name chestnut-bellied rock thrush. You must take photos of this magnificent bird, if spotted.

The chestnut-bellied rock thrush has a rusty orange colored underbelly that inspired its name.

How cute are they?

The chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) is a tiny bird that you might spot around flying high over your head, near the mountains. With their lush blue cobalt color, they are sure to catch your eye and make excellent subjects for photos. If not cute, these birds are definitely one of the prettiest.  

How do they communicate?

This species of bird is best known for its warbling vocalization. They communicate through segments of looped songs with pauses in between. The chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) can be spotted singing high above the ground, perched on some cliff  where their songs can be heard loud and clear.

How big is a chestnut-bellied rock thrush?

The chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) is as big as the biggest thrushes, the rufous-tailed rock thrush and the Cape rock thrush.

How fast can a chestnut-bellied rock thrush fly?

This species of bird can fly pretty swiftly. However, the chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) tends to dip and rise during its flight in order to catch insects flying around.

How much does a chestnut-bellied rock thrush weigh?

With a weight of around 1.7-2.2 oz (48–61 g) the chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) range falls in the mid-weight category of rock thrushes. The higher weighted bird of the rock thrush species is the rufous tailed rock thrush which weighs around 2.1-2.3 oz (60-64 g).  Overall, the chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) weighs more than a typical garden bird would weigh.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Male and female species of a chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) do not have any special names. The name given to these birds is the same for other birds. They are simply called male chestnut-bellied rock thrushes and female chestnut-bellied rock thrushes.

What would you call a baby chestnut-bellied rock thrush?

Like many other birds of the world, the babies of chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) birds are referred to as nestlings when they are still inside their nests and fledglings when they are out of their nests.

What do they eat?

Both male and female chestnut-bellied rock thrushes eat spiders, beetles, and seasonal fruits. Since their nests are built on high altitudes, their predators are likely to include hawks.

Are they poisonous?

The chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) is not poisonous.

Would they make a good pet?

The chestnut-bellied rock thrush (Monticola rufiventris) is an Old World bird. They are small and harmless and would make good pets. However, since they are natural to mountainous areas, it is not common to see this bird as pets.

Did you know...

The blue rock thrush is the national bird of Malta.

A group of thrushes is collectively known as a hermitage and a mutation of thrushes.

The most popular songbird, the nightingale, belongs to the family of thrushes.

How do you identify a chestnut-bellied rock thrush?

You can easily identify the chestnut-bellied rock thrush male and the chestnut-bellied rock thrush female. The male bird has a scarlet belly with a deep blue color on its wings, nape and back. The female has a brown base on the belly area and a gray base from the forehad to the tail with white scale-like marks throughout. It also has a white crescent at the hind of its eyes. You must take photos of this bird from the order Passeriformes if spotted.

Are chestnut-bellied rock thrushes endangered?

The current population of this species of bird is stable however it doesn't mean they are completely immune for the future. With the help of data collected by IUCN in 2012, this bird was listed as a species of Least Concern.  

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these hummingbird facts and vesper sparrow facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Chestnut bellied rock thrush coloring pages.

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Written by Ritika Shukla

Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Business Administration

Ritika Shukla picture

Ritika ShuklaBachelor of Commerce, Master of Business Administration

Ritika holds a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from Mata Sundri College For Women, Delhi, and is currently pursuing her MBA from the School Of Management and Entrepreneurship at IIT Jodhpur. Ritika's exceptional research skills were recognized when she was awarded Student Project Of The Year by INSC for her academic research project on 'Psychological Stress, Antecedents, and Analysis for Undergraduates'. Moreover, she showcased her financial literacy skills by scoring among the All India Top-50 percentile in the National Financial Literacy Assessment Test (NCFE-NFLAT). Ritika is an avid reader of fictional novels and utilizes her spare time to engage in content writing. She demonstrates her commitment to academia through her voluntary work at her university, where she provides academic and on-campus support to fellow students.

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