Blue Rock Thrush

This female Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius in non-breeding plumage was seen on the roof of the hut at the top of the Khao Yai National Park. This is the same building on which the Giant False Leaf Katydid was photographed earlier the same morning.

Blue Rock Thrush is a species of chat. This thrush-like Old World flycatcher was until recently placed in the family Turdidae. It breeds in southern Europe, north-west Africa, and from central Asia to northern China and Malaysia. The European, north African and south-east Asian birds are mainly resident, apart from altitudinal movements. Other Asian populations are more migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa, India and south-east Asia. This bird is a very uncommon visitor to northern and western Europe.

Reference: Wikipedia

Its breeding habitat includes rocky, precipitous ravines and on mountainsides with boulders and rock outcrops, locally in stone quarries, on ruins, churches and even inhabited buildings in flat terrain. It is mainly resident, wary and often takes cover. Source: Collins Bird Guide of Britain and Europe.

The habitat today was the roof of a wooden hut alongside a road within a tropical rain forest. It also seemed very tame and stayed in position for good views and photographs. This begs the question “what was it doing here?” / jc