African stonechat
EN

African stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_stonechat

Overview

The African stonechat or common stonechat is a species of the Old World flycatcher family (Muscicapidae), inhabiting sub-Saharan Africa and adjacent regions. Like the other chats, it was long assigned to the thrush family (Turdidae), to which the chats are convergent. Its scientific name refer to its appearance and habitat and means "collared rock-dweller": Saxicola from Latin saxum ("rock") + incola, torquatus, Latin for "collared".

The African stonechat faces severe population declines primarily due to widespread habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urbanization across its range. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns and vegetation composition in its preferred grassland and scrubland habitats, while overgrazing by livestock degrades the open areas it requires for foraging.

Threat summary

Habitat

It has a scattered distribution across much of sub-Saharan Africa, occurring locally as far north as Senegal and Ethiopia. Outlying populations are found the mountains of southwest Arabia and on Madagascar and Grande Comore. It is non-migratory, moving only locally if at all. As a result, it has developed much regional variation, being divided into 13 subspecies.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is African stonechat classified as Endangered?
African stonechat is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The African stonechat faces severe population declines primarily due to widespread habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urbanization across its range. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns and vegetation composition in its preferred grassland and scrubland habitats, while overgrazing by livestock degrades the open areas it requires for foraging.
Where does African stonechat live?
African stonechat occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to African stonechat?
The main threats to African stonechat are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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