Habitat
Alpine or subalpine meadows and scrub during breeding season and wet and dry grasslands, reeds and tamarisks along riverbeds, and also in sugarcane fields, in open terrain during non-breeding season. From sea-level - 250 m, but on migration up to 4,500 m.
Bhutan, China (mainland) (P), India (NB), Kazakhstan (NB) (P), Mongolia (B), Nepal (NB), Russia (Asian) (E) (B), Russia (Central Asian) (B).
Eastern Kazakhstan, extreme southern Russia (Altay) and western Mongolia; non-breeding mainly northern India and Nepal.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Loss of grasslands in its wintering grounds due to drainage, conversion to agriculture, overgrazing are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
White-throated Bush Chat (Saxicola insignis) [XC162636]
by Frank Lambert from Bayankhongorijn Khukh Nuur, Mongolia (song)
White-throated Bush Chat (Saxicola insignis) [XC162632]
by Patrick Franke from Bayankhongorijn Khukh Nuur, Mongolia (call, excitement call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) which is smaller, lacks white primary coverts and patch at base of primaries and has dark throat.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet