Scientific name:
Monticola solitarius

Natural spread:
Mediterranean-area, China, front, / inner-Asia

the rocky regions of the entire Mediterranean-area as well as front, and Innerasiens as far as to China are the home of the Blaumerle. In the German area in the Alps-area, the Blaumerle only rarely occurs from where it moves as far as at the Gestade of the Mediterranean in the winter.

Shape The male is a conspicuous bird with its azure plumage and clearly from it dark brown until blue-gray colored females distinguishable. With a length of 20 cm admittedly smaller than a blackbird, however, it is this quite similarly in its appearance, why also "Merle" it = Merula (blackbird) is named.

Food The Blaumerlen hunt your food existing from insects in tiefergelegenen mountain-forests, also follow the people as far as at the villages, however, and don't take grapes unwillingly to itself.

Reproduction Blaumerlen live usually in pairs together, the males undertake over its brood-precinct Balzflüge, with what they rise steeply and then glide singing slowly downward. its chant is melodic, even if not as distinctive as with the blackbirds. In some areas, Blaumerlen take over also the habits of the blackbird and brood at buildings. its original Nistplätze lie at coasts and in the high mountain region in steep-walls and cliffs of unapproachable rock-areas.

Into the big, loosely and bowl-nicely built nest, the female puts 4-5 eggs, that it hatches alone, from April. The boys slip after 12-13 days, are taken care of by both alto-birds and are left the nest in the age of 17 days.