Measuring only 12 centimeters in length, the Amur stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri) is a beautiful bird that visits our city en route its migration path. Curiously, some small numbers can even be considered as residents, seen almost all year long in the northernmost parts of Shenzhen.

The male stonechat has a striking black hood that extends to the back of the body and the wings, in contrast to a fascinating broad white patch on the sides of the neck. White patches are also present on the wings and the lower back; the tail is black. The bird’s chest is of a beautiful orange coloration that fades into a paler shade down the belly.

Females are light brown with stripes on the head, with a softer white patch on the lateral parts and downside of the neck, and a paler brown to white coloration on the chest and down the belly.

This fantastic bird enjoys tall grasses or open areas where they hunt primarily for small invertebrate animals like insects, snails, and worms. They also feed on seeds and fruit.

Their breeding period runs from March to August, when they find their mates; females have often been observed to mate with several males. After building the nest, a female stonechat can lay up to six eggs per clutch, which she incubates for about two weeks. The hatchlings remain under the care of their parents for several more days.

This bird is parasitized by the common cuckoo , so it is essential to think of this bird as a fundamental part of the healthy dynamics of our city’s ecosystem.