The Miombo rock thrush is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is dry savanna.
Region
South-central Africa (Miombo belt)
Typical Environment
Occurs across the miombo and dry savanna belt from Angola and the southern DRC through Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Rwanda, and Burundi. It prefers rocky slopes, granite outcrops, and scattered boulders within open miombo and mopane woodlands. The species also uses woodland edges, wooded ravines, and lightly wooded savanna with ample perches. It is generally local but can be fairly common where suitable rocky habitat is present.
Altitude Range
400–2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Miombo rock thrush favors rocky hillsides and inselbergs within miombo woodland, often perching conspicuously on boulders or termite mounds. Males show striking blue-grey upperparts with rich rufous underparts, while females are more cryptic and mottled for camouflage. It is generally quiet and unobtrusive, but delivers a clear, melodious song from elevated perches. The species is currently not considered threatened and persists across a broad swath of south-central Africa.
Miombo rock thrush
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, undulating dashes between perches
Social Behavior
Typically found alone or in pairs, maintaining territories on rocky slopes. Breeding pairs nest in cavities or crevices in rocks, walls, or banks, lining nests with grasses and fibers. Courtship includes song from prominent perches and short display flights.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A clear, melodious series of whistles and fluty phrases delivered from exposed rocks or treetops. Calls include sharp ticks and chatters when alarmed.
Plumage
Male with slate-blue to blue-grey head and upperparts, bright rufous-orange underparts and tail; female brownish with buff mottling and faint streaking, with warmer rufous tones on the tail.
Diet
Primarily feeds on insects such as beetles, ants, termites, caterpillars, and grasshoppers. It also takes spiders and other small arthropods. Occasional small fruits or berries may be eaten, especially in the dry season when insects are less abundant.
Preferred Environment
Forages from low, exposed perches on rocks or branches, sallying to the ground or into the air to snatch prey. Often hunts along rocky edges of miombo woodland and open clearings with scattered boulders.
