Bird Watching or Twitching in Andalucia Southern Spain
September 2006, Stonechat, Saxicola torquata
The Stonechat is a resident in this part of Spain and is quite liberal about his habitat, living in the maquis, on heaths, in scrub and on sand dunes. They are normally shy birds so, without binoculars they are difficult to identify by sight. This fellow was seen at Bologna on his song perch, in this case on top of a Roman wall. His song resembles two pebbles being clicked together, hence the common name, and, characteristically, he will flick his tail in time to his tune. The black head, white throat and reddish-orange underneath are much more pronounced during the mating season