Home › Aves › Muscicapidae › Brown Rock Chat (Oenanthe fusca)
SPECIES PROFILE
Brown Rock Chat (Oenanthe fusca)
Oenanthe
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent
DIET
Insectivorous
HABITAT
Open scrub rocky areas urban gardens
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Muscicapidae
GENUS
Oenanthe
📋 Description
SIZE
17 cm long 20-25 g
COLORATION
Brown with darker wings and tail
ADAPTATIONS
Small size and perky posture for ground foraging
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Open scrub rocky areas urban gardens
DIET
Insectivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent
REPRODUCTION
Lays 3-4 eggs in rock crevices incubated 14-16 days
DIET DETAILS
Insects spiders small invertebrates
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Urban sprawl habitat degradation
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Ground Dwellers: Brown Rock Chats hop with 22-gram bodies eating 10 grams of insects daily in Delhi's ruins. Their upright stance is distinctive.
2
Urban Nesters: These chats nest in Kanpur's gardens covering 3000 sq km. Construction threatens their rocky habitats.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Delhi scrublands host brown rock chat sightings
Bithoor in Uttar Pradesh rocky areas offer brown rock chat sightings
Jorbeer Conservation Reserve in Rajasthan scrublands have brown rock chat sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Year-round Dry habitats ensure visibility for spotting rock chats
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Spot brown rock chats on low perches or rocky ground at dawn
