The Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra Etymology: Saxicola, "rock-dweller", from Latin saxum, a rock + incola, one who dwells someplace. rubetra, Latin for "colored reddish" or "reddish-hued"., is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae. It, and similar small European species, are often called chats.