italian garden birds

The European blue Thrush (Monticola solitarius) is a charmingly elegant bird around the size of a starling (21 to 23cm tall). The male of the species has a soft yet nonetheless striking blue plumage, whereas the female has a dull brown colour. The blue thrush is a native of southern Europe, north Africa and parts of central Asia and is not generally migratory, however it does change altitude to hunt for food and mate etc.

The blue rock thrush prefers a mountainous terrain where it feeds on various foods, from insects and berries to small reptiles. The nests of the blue rock thrush can be found in old walls and rocky slopes and lays between 3 and 5 blue eggs. The young hatch with a similar dull brown coloration as the females of the species.

The rock thrush can be encouraged into Italian gardens by leaving kitchen scraps on a bird table or on lawns etc. It is a shy bird but it can be found around human dwellings and will make fleeting visits to gardens on its hunt for food.

An unusual yet welcome visitor to the Italian garden.