The brown rock chat or Indian chat is a bird species of the family Muscicapidae. It is found mainly in northern and central India. It is often found in old buildings and rocky areas. It resembles a female Indian robin but lacks the reddish vent and differs in posture and behaviour apart from being larger. In flight it bears some resemblance to thrushes and redstarts. It feeds on insects, captured mainly on the ground. It was formerly placed as the sole species in the genus Cercomela but is now included with the wheatears in the genus Oenanthe.
Region
Indian Subcontinent
Typical Environment
Occurs mainly in northern and central India, with strong associations to rocky hillsides, ravines, cliffs, quarries, and dry scrub. It is especially common in historical structures such as forts, temples, and old buildings, where it uses crevices for nesting. The species also occupies village edges and semi-urban areas with scattered rocks and walls. It prefers open, sparsely vegetated terrain with ample perches for foraging. Proximity to human settlements does not deter it and may even provide additional nesting sites.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Often seen around old forts, ruins, and rocky outcrops, the brown rock chat readily adapts to human-made structures for perches and nesting. It frequently flicks its tail and makes short sallies to snatch insects from the ground or walls. Formerly placed in the genus Cercomela, it is now grouped with the wheatears in Oenanthe. Despite living close to people, it remains a wild, non-domesticated species.
Brown rock chats are often found near human habitation.
Temperament
confiding and alert
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick, low sallies
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs, maintaining small territories centered on rocky structures or buildings. Nests in cavities, crevices, and holes in walls, often reusing favored sites. Both parents partake in nest defense and feeding of the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A varied series of rich whistles and chatters delivered from prominent perches such as rooftops and rocks. The song is clear and ringing, interspersed with short trills and repeated phrases, most active at dawn and late afternoon.
