Sombre Rock Chat
Oenanthe dubia
Sombre Rock Chat (Oenanthe dubia) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Sombre Rock Chat (Oenanthe dubia) is a member of the Muscicapidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 19.4 g.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Not enough information to assess its risk of extinction.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Muscicapidae Chats, Old World Flycatchers
- Genus Oenanthe
- Species dubia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 19.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sombre Rock Chat is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Sombre Rock Chat is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Sombre Rock Chat (Oenanthe dubia) is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF nc Ethiopia (single old record nw Somalia).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 19.4 g, with a wing length of about 7.9 cm and a tail of around 6 cm.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 65,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sombre Rock Chat?
The Sombre Rock Chat is a small bird that weighs around 19.4 g.
Where does the Sombre Rock Chat live?
The Sombre Rock Chat is found across Africa with a range covering AF nc Ethiopia (single old record nw Somalia), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Sombre Rock Chat belong to?
The Sombre Rock Chat (Oenanthe dubia) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Sombre Rock Chat eat?
The Sombre Rock Chat is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Sombre Rock Chat migrate?
The Sombre Rock Chat is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
What sound does the Sombre Rock Chat make?
1 real field recording of the Sombre Rock Chat — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Sombre Rock Chat's range?
The Sombre Rock Chat has a mapped global range of about 65,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Muscicapidae
A field guide to the Muscicapidae family — 355 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.