| י 411) צוקית בודדת | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
:צוקית בודדת | . הציפור הלאומית של מלטה. הזכר בולט בצבעיו הכחולים . ראשו, עורפו, חלקי גופו העליונים וחזהו כחלחלים-אפורים . אברות כנפיו כחולות חומות ואברות זנבו כחולות-שחורות . הנקבה דומה לנקבת הצוקית החכלילית אך חסרה את הצבע הערמוני בזנבה . בית גידולה משתרע מצפון אפריקה, ספרד, דרום אירופה . משם דרך המזרח התיכון לאירן, פקיסטאן ועד יפן ומלזיה . בית גידולה נופים סלעיים מפני הים ועד לפסגות הרים ברום של 3000 מטר . נוהגת לגרש ציפורים אחרות, ומכאן רכשה את שמה בודדת . בארץ יציבה שכיחה בהרים ובאזורים מדבריים למחצה במרכז ובצפון הארץ . מבקרת חורף וקיץ לא שכיחה ברוב חלקי הארץ
Subspecies and Distribution.
| M. s. solitarius S Europe and N Africa E to Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Turkey, and Levant. M. s. longirostris N-E Iraq, Iran, Turkmeniya, and Afghanistan. M. s. pandoo mountains of central Asia from E Afghanistan through Tien Shan to Himalayas to Mountains of central China. M. s. philippensis E Asia from Manchuria, S Sakalin, and Japan S to E China and Taiwan. M. s. madoci Malay peninsula and Sumatra. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם
Descriptive notes.
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20 cm, 45-58 g, wingspan 33-37 cm. Shape, stance, and habits much as Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush, but noticeably bulkier with longer tail. Plumage dark and relatively uniform at all ages and seasons. Male dusky blue, in spring dull slate blue, with black tone strongest on back, wing, and tail. Female mottled dusky, dark grey-brown, with little visible blue tone and more obviously marked than male. Sexes dissimilar little seasonal variation. Habitat. Breeds in W Palearctic in middle and lower middle latitudes in warm dry temperate, Mediterranean and steppe climatic zones, montane and coastal, rocky and nearly always in part precipitous. Occupies mountains from foothills to juniper zone, especially on precipitous rocky slopes above mountain streams, and on rocks strewn through forests, or sotne fields with thick shrub growth and scattered trees at low as well as high altitudes. Food and Feeding. Mainly invertebrates, also lizards and plant material. Feeds on ground, by pouncing on prey from perch, and by making short chases after flying prey. Breeding. May-Jun in Iberia, Apr-May in N-W Africa, Mar in Malta, Jun in Yugoslavia. Nest sitein hole or crevice in cliff, under overhanging rock, in cave or quarry, in wall of old building, occasionally in horizontal drainage pipe or hole in tree. Nest, rather bulky but loosely built shallow cup of coarse dry grass, moss, and some roots, lined with softer and finer roots, and grasses, occasionally with feathers and plant down. 4-5 eggs, sub-elliptical, smooth and fairly glossy, very pale blue to blue green, unmarked or with fine reddish, reddish-brown, or brown end. Incubation 12-15 days, mainly by female. Movements. Partially migratory, although extralimitally in eastern Asia primarily migratory. Vertical displacements common. Main wintering areas of migrants lie in N Africa. W&C Mediterranean population of S Europe and N-E Africa is partially migratory. Middle East population breeding from Turkey to Afghanistan is partially migratory, although extensive areas at high altitude vacated almost entirely. Status and Conservation. Not globally threatened. Range decreased in France and Switzerland, no information on trends. Israel. In Israel two subspecies M. s. solitarius a quite common resident and uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor, and M. s. longirostris a scarce migrant in spring.
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