• The following pages have some identification markers for each of the Chats found in India
• To know more on these birds you can visit http://ogaclicks.com/chat
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• You can also call me on (91)9840119078 , (91) 9445219078 (91) 6369815812 List of Chats found in India
Sno. Name Binomial Name Rubythroat (Calliopes ) 1 Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope 2 Himalayan Rubythroat Calliope pectoralis 3 Chinese Rubythroat Calliope tschebaiewi Bushchat (Saxicola) 1 Pied Bushchat Saxicola Caprata 2 Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferreus 3 Brown Rockchat Saxicola fusca 4 Hodgson's Bushchat Saxicola insignis 5 Jerdon's Bushchat Saxicola jerdoni 6 White-tailed Stonechat Saxicola leucurus 7 Stoliczka's Bushchat Saxicola macrorhynchus 8 Common Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
©www.ogaclicks.com Genus- Calliope
• Rubythroat Chinese Rubythroat Identification Tips Chinese Rubythroat : Calliope tschebaiewi: Breeds in Ladhak, Winter visitor to North East India Black tail Grey head & Crown White supercilium Dark lores White submoustachial stripe Malar stripe Black Bill Upperparts grey
Deep red from chin to lower throat
Small white supercilium Black breast Outer rectrices with white tips
Black Malar stripe White throat Grey flanks Legs are black Dark brown upperparts
Grey underparts Male Whitish underparts scattered grey spots Difference from Breeding plumage Female Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Himalayan Rubythroat Identification Tips Himalayan Rubythroat: Calliope pectoralis: Breeds in Himalayas, Winter visitor to foothills & North East India Grey head & Crown White supercilium Dark lores
Black band from face to throat-sides Black Bill Upperparts grey Black tail
Deep red from chin to lower throat
Small white supercilium Black breast
Outer rectrices with white tips Black Malar stripe Grey flanks White throat Legs are black Brown upperparts
Grey underparts Male Whitish underparts
Difference from Breeding plumage Female Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Siberian Rubythroat Identification Tips Siberian Rubythroat: Calliope calliope: Winter visitor to Himalayan foothills, Peninsular & North East India
Warm olive-brown head & Crown Dark lores White supercilium
White submoustachial stripe Black Bill Upperparts Warm olive-brown
Deep red from chin to lower throat Warm olive-brown tail Black malar lines
Ashy-grey breast
White chin & Throat Buffy flanks
Brown breast Legs are greyish-flesh
Male Whitish underparts
Difference from Breeding plumage Female Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Rubythroat Comparison- Male
White submoustachial stripe Upperparts Warm olive-brown
Ashy-grey breast
Siberian Rubythroat
Chinese Rubythroat
Whitish underparts scattered grey spots Himalayan Rubythroat
Black band from face to throat-sides
©www.ogaclicks.com Rubythroat Comparison- Female Siberian Rubythroat Chinese Rubythroat
Smaller supercilium Prominent Supercilium
White submoustachial stripe
Dark Grey- brown upperparts Brown Breast band
Himalayan Rubythroat
Bigger supercilium ( ending well behind the eye)
Brown upperparts
©www.ogaclicks.com Genus- Saxicola
• Bushchats • Rockchats • Stonechats Brown Rockchat identification Tips Brown Rockchat : Saxicola fusca : Resident of North & North West India
Brown head & Crown Both sexes Similar
Bill is black Rufous tinged Ear-coverts
Upperparts brown, uniform
Coverts are darker brown
Blackish wings
Rufescent-brown underparts from chin to vent
Blackish tail
Legs are black
Difference from Breeding plumage
Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Grey Bushchat Identification Tips Grey Bushchat : Saxicola ferreus : Breeds in Himalayas & North East Indian hills, winters south to North Indian Plains Clear white supercilium Dark lores Crown to rump mid-grey with vague dark streaks
Black Bill Black face
Upperparts grey fringed
Buff Supercilium Grey-washed breast
White wing patch Rufous-brown crown & head
Rufous-brown upperparts
Rump grey fringed Buff underparts
Legs are black Male
Difference from Breeding plumage Female Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Hodgson's Bushchat Identification Tips Non-breeding Hodgson's Bushchat : Saxicola insignis : Winters North Indian Plains Black head & crown Collar is not complete Black Bill Male
Smaller White wing patch Black cheek & ear-coverts
White chin & throat White band chin to hindneck
Bright chestnut breast patch Black upperparts
Rufous Orange rump Blackish-brown White wing patch Underparts crown & head
Buff Supercilium
Blackish-brown upperparts White chin & Smaller wing throat White underparts patch White rump
Buff underparts Legs are black
Difference from Breeding plumage Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Important id point Inskipp and Grimmett Female www.HBW.com Jerdon's Bushchat Identification Tips Jerdon's Bushchat : Saxicola jerdoni: Resident of North East Indian hills in India
Glossy Black head & Crown Dark lores
Black Bill Black face
Upperparts glossy black
Buff Supercilium White underparts
Rufous-brown crown & head
Dark brown upperparts White throat
Black tail Dark brown Buff underparts tail
Legs are black Male
Difference from Breeding plumage Female Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Pied Bushchat Identification Tips Pied Bushchat : • S. c. bicolor - Kashmir, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and West Bengal , In winters found in North and central India • S. c. burmanicus - Central & South East India • S. c. nilgiriensis- South West India Black Bill Glossy Black head & Crown S. c. nilgiriensis
Smaller wing patch Black chin, throat & breast Upperparts glossy black More black on underparts Grey-brown crown & head White wing patch
Black tail Grey- brown upperparts
Dark- brown wings
Buff underparts, streaked Rufous rump
Legs are black White underparts Dark brown tail
Difference from nominate Male Female Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Stoliczka's Bushchat Identification Tips Stoliczka's Bushchat : Saxicola macrorhynchus: Resident of Rajasthan in India Buff supercilium Buff brown head & crown, Dark lores streaked Blackish-brown head & Crown Black Bill Black face flecked paler White supercilium
Upperparts buff-brown, Black face streaked Buff Upperparts glossy black underparts White on brown white band on primary coverts coverts and scapulars Flight feathers White chin & throat fringed buff Buff-brown Rump White brown rump
Non-breeding Buff-stained Black tail breast and Sandy brown crown & Buff Supercilium flanks head, streaked
Buffish -white throat White underparts Sandy brown upperparts, streaked Buffish underparts Legs are black
Rufous fringe on great coverts Male
Difference from Breeding plumage
Rufous rump Female Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Common Stonechat Identification Tips Common Stonechat : Saxicola torquatu: Breeds in Himalayas & North East India, widespread Winter visitor in in India Black hood head & Crown Male
Black Bill Broad white lateral neck patch
Upperparts black with brown tips Black chin & throat
Breast and flanks White Wing patch rufous-chestnut Buff-streaked dark Indistinct pale supercilium brown Head & Crown
Buff-streaked dark brown Black tail upperparts Grey-brown chin & throat
Smaller white Rufous-orange breast Wing patch
Legs are black Whitish belly to vent
White rump Belly to undertail-coverts Difference from Breeding plumage paler to white Female Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com White-tailed Stonechat Identification Tips White-tailed Stonechat : Saxicola leucurus: Breeds in Himalayas & North East India, widespread Winter visitor in in India
white inner webs of outer tail feathers Black head & Crown
Black Bill Broad white lateral neck patch
Upperparts black with brown tips Black chin & throat
Breast and flanks Small white Wing patch rufous-chestnut Buff-streaked dark brown Head & Crown Indistinct pale supercilium
Buff-streaked dark brown upperparts Male White chin & throat
Buffy edges of Paler orange breast wing-coverts
Legs are black Paler orange belly to vent
Belly to undertail-coverts Difference from Breeding plumage paler to white Female Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com