Birdwatching - 3017 🐦

🦉 The Siberian stonechat or Asian stonechat (Saxicola maurus)

• Saxicola (lat ): saxum rock, stone, -cola inhabitant
• maurus (lat.): Moorish, black

You can find it in open spaces like fields or meadows, or near forests, on slopes with bushes, where it, like a guard, occupies the top of a tall blade of grass or branch. From there, the stonechat vigilantly watches the territory, periodically flying up for prey - insects, which it catches in the air or takes off from the ground. It is curious that even in windy weather it manages to maintain perfect balance, as if glued to its observation post.

The stonechat builds its nest right on the ground, skillfully hiding it among hummocks and tall grass. The female builds it from dry grass blades, and lines the inside with soft fluff and animal fur. It is curious that when flying to the nest, the parents never sit directly on it - first they linger on a nearby branch, look around, and only then disappear into the grass.