Cercotrichas galactotes

Vulnerable

VU (A2b)

Contributed: Avner Rinot, Asaf Mayrose, Yoav Perlman, Yosef Kiat, Tuvia Kahn, Lior Kislev, Ezra Hadad, Ido Zurim, Noam Weiss, Yaron Bazer, Rei Segali, Manachem Adar, Eyal Shochat

Update Time: Aug. 21, 2023, 4:32 p.m.

The Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin is classified as Vulnerable (VU) due to the continued decline in its population size, which is estimated at more than 30% over three generations (11.4 years). In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was classified as Near Threatened (NT). The change in its status reflects the deterioration in its population status and its disappearance from areas where it had formerly bred.

VU Current Regional Assessment | NT Previous Regional Assessment | LC Global Assessment

Habitats	Mediterranean Batha, Parks & Woodlands, Planted Forest, Bush & Garrigue
Presence In Israel	Migrant, Summer
Breeding In Israel	Breeder
Migration Types	Long Range
Zoographical Zones	Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian
Landscape Types	Plains & Valleys, Wide Wadis, Rural Area
Vegetation Types	Mediterranean Maquis, Mediterranean Garrigue, Steppe, Plantation, Parks
Vegetation Densities	Medium, Low
Nest Locations	Tree, Bushes
Diet Types	Invertebrate
Foraging Grounds	Ground, Trees and Shrubs
Body Sizes	Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors	Pesticide Poisoning, Habitat loss and fragmentation, Aforestation, Tree planting

The Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin is a medium-sized insect-eating bird, resembling a nightingale in its shape, long legs and habit to hop on the ground and extend its tail upwards. Its head and upperparts are rufous brown, white belly, and tail rufous tipped with black and white spots that are revealed when the tail is fanned. The head pattern is prominent, with a dark eye stripe and a pale supercilium. It is very noisy in the mating season and can be recognized by its rufous tail, which it spreads and bobs up and down.

Breeds in partially open landscapes with scattered trees and shrubs, in both natural and cultivated areas. It prefers rather dry areas, with sparse groves or orchards, shrubs and hedges, sometimes near human habitations.

No specific conservation measures have been taken for this species to date.

חביב, א. ומירוז, א. 2017. סיכום סקר עופות בערבות הירדן. דו"ח רשות הטבע והגנים והחברה להגנת הטבע.
מירוז, א. 2013. סיכום סקר ציפורים במזרח לכיש, אביב 2013. דו"ח רשות הטבע והגנים.
מירוז, א. ושוחט, א. 2014. סיכום סקר ציפורים סביב היישוב נטע במזרח לכיש – 2014. דו"ח רשות הטבע והגנים.
מירוז, א., 2007 . סיכום סקר ציפורים בגבעות גומר. דו"ח עבור רשות הטבע והגנים.
פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.
פרלמן, י., שוחט, א. ולבינגר, ז. 2009. סקר אטלס ציפורים בערבה סיכום שנת 2009. דו"ח מרכז הצפרות של החברה להגנת הטבע.

Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
Species page at Birdlife International

Contributed: Avner Rinot, Asaf Mayrose, Yoav Perlman, Yosef Kiat, Tuvia Kahn, Lior Kislev, Ezra Hadad, Ido Zurim, Noam Weiss, Yaron Bazer, Rei Segali, Manachem Adar, Eyal Shochat

Current Occupancy Map

Current occupancy map by density
Data Missing	Sporadic	Limited Sites	Low Density	High Density
0	0	0	0	0

More Maps

Distribution maps

The maps presented here provide visual information on the distribution of species in Israel from the past and present, and the changes in occupancy and breeding density during the comparison period. For further reading

Relative Abundance 2010-2020

Breeding density values in the current decade as determined from experts' opinion and observations from databases.

Relative Abundance 2010-2020 by density
Data Missing	Sporadic	Limited Sites	Low Density	High Density
8	12	12	21	19

Relative Abundance 1980-1990

Density values based primarily on the book The Birds of Israel (Shirihai 1996).

Relative Abundance 1980-1990 by density
Data Missing	Sporadic	Limited Sites	Low Density	High Density
5	14	14	17	22

Occupancy 1990-2020

The map shows differences in the species breeding distribution between the 1980's breeding map and the current weighted breeding evaluation. Negative value - species previously bred in the grid and is not presently breeding; positive value - species has not previously bred in the grid and is currently breeding.

Occupancy 1990-2020
Data Missing	No Change	Occupancy Increase	Occupancy Decrease
6	35	1	9

Change in Relative Abundance 1990-2020

The map shows the changes in the relative abundance of a species in each of the distribution grids between the breeding map of the 1980s and the weighted current breeding evaluation. Negative values - decline in abundance; positive values - increase in abundance; zero - no change in abundance.

Change in Relative Abundance 1990-2020
80 to 100	50	20 to 30	No Change	30- to 20-	50-	100- to 80-	Data Missing
0	4	2	22	12	14	11	16

Rarity
Vulnerability
Attractiveness
Endemism
Red number
Peripherality

IUCN category
Threat Definition according to the red book