Thrushes (Turdidae)

Benson's Rock-thrush (Monticola bensoni) - HBW 10, p. 717

French: Monticole de Benson German: Bensonrötel Spanish: Roquero de Benson
Other common names: Benson’s/Farkas’s Robin-chat

Taxonomy: Monticola bensoni Farkas, 1971, Ankarefu, Antinosy, south-west Madagascar.
Sometimes placed with M. sharpei, M. erythronotus and M. imerinus in a separate genus, Pseudocossyphus, although recent genetic evidence, and the shared possession of a derived juvenile plumage, supports their inclusion in present genus. Has recently been treated, on basis of genetic, morphological and distributional evidence, as conspecific with or even synonymous with M. sharpei, but song is reportedly distinct, raising possibility that genes studied have evolved more slowly than those expressing these characters; further research required. Monotypic.

Distribution: SC & SW Madagascar.