Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Bluethroat

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Kingdom
  
Order
  
Passeriformes

Genus
  
Higher classification
  
Luscinia

Phylum
  
Chordata

Family
  
Muscicapidae

Scientific name
  
Luscinia svecica

Rank
  
Species

Bluethroat d2fbmjy3x0sduacloudfrontnetsitesdefaultfiles

Similar
  
Bird, Luscinia, Whinchat, Common redstart, Northern wheatear

Bluethroat singing avi


The bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) 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.

Contents

Bluethroat Bluethroat videos photos and facts Luscinia svecica ARKive

It is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in wet birch wood or bushy swamp in Europe and Asia with a foothold in western Alaska. It nests in tussocks or low in dense bushes. It winters in north Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

Bluethroat The RSPB Bluethroat

The bluethroat is similar in size to the European robin at 13–14 cm. It is plain brown above except for the distinctive black tail with red side patches. It has a strong white supercilium. The male has an iridescent blue bib edged below with successive black, white and rust coloured borders. Some races, such as L. svecica svecica (red-spotted bluethroat) of northern Eurasia, have a red spot in the centre of the blue bib.

Bluethroat Photos of Bluethroat Luscinia svecica the Internet Bird

Others, such as L. svecica cyanecula (white-spotted bluethroat) of southern and central Europe, have a white spot in the centre of the blue bib. L. svecica magna in Turkey has no central spot.

Bluethroat Bluethroat Wikipedia

Females of all races usually have just a blackish crescent on an otherwise cream throat and breast. Newly fledged juveniles are freckled and spotted dark brown above.

Bluethroat Bluethroat Audubon Field Guide

Despite the distinctive appearance of the males, recent genetic studies show only limited variation between the forms, and confirm that this is a single species.

Moults begins in July after breeding and is completed in 40-45 days, before the birds migrate.

The male has a varied and very imitative song. Its call is a typical chat chack noise.

Bluethroat bird call birdsong


Etymology

The genus name Luscinia is Latin for the common nightingale and svecica is New Latin. The colours of the male's breast were thought to evoke the Swedish flag, the yellow in the flag being more orange hued in the 17th and 18th centuries.

References

Bluethroat Wikipedia


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