Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Saxicola maurus
Family: Chats, Old World Flycatchers, and Allies · Status: Rare migrant · Size: 14 cm · Conservation: Not Evaluated
Breeds across Siberia and central Asia, wintering from the Indian subcontinent east to southern China and the Thai-Malay Peninsula.
Breeding male has black head, upperparts and wings, broad white patch on side of nape and neck, white wing patch, whitish rump and orange-rufous breast. Female has streaked crown, sandy-brown upperparts and unmarked buffish underparts with rufescent breast. Non-breeding male resembles female but black feather-bases visible on head-sides and throat, and lores and chin often all black.
Open grassland, scrub, and marsh fringes.
Often sits atop an open perch such as a fence or tall grass stem, drops to ground to pick up food and returns to the same perch or one nearby.