Indian Birds: Being a Key to the Common Birds of the Plains of India

by Douglas Dewar

[61]. Pratincola caprata: The Common Pied Bush Chat, or White-winged Black Robin. (F. 608), (J. 481), (-I.)

Found in N. and C. India.

[62]. Pratincola atrata: The Southern Pied Bush Chat. (F. 609), (J. 482), (I.)

Found in S. India.

The above two species may perhaps be regarded as local varieties.

[63]. Pratincola maura: The Indian Bush Chat. (F. 610), (J. 483), (-I.)

Cock: The upper parts are reddish brown in winter (black in summer owing to the brown edges to the feathers being worn away). Large patch of white on each side of neck; breast orange-red, lower parts pale reddish brown.

Hen: Reddish brown all over; no white neck patch.

A winter visitor to all parts of Northern India; occurs usually in open fields.

The hens of these species of robin-like birds are very difficult to distinguish; but as they are usually found in company with the cock it is not as a rule difficult to assign them to their proper species.