| Bluethroat | ||||||||||||||
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Luscinia svecica |
The Bluethroat Luscinia svecica is a member of the thrush family Turdidae. It, and similar small European thrushes, are often called chats
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 tests in tussocks or low in dense bushes. It winters in north Africa and India
Bluethroat is similar in size to the European Robin. It is plain brown above except for the distinctive black tail with red side patches. It has a strong white supercilium.
The male has a blue bib edged below with successive black, white and rust coloured borders. Some races, such as L. svecica svecica Red-spotted Bluethroat of northern Europe, have a red spot in the centre of the blue bib.
Red-spotted race
Others, such as L. svecica cyanecula White-spotted Bluethroat (shown in the table above) 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.
Females of all races usually have just a blackish crescent on an otherwise cream throat and breast.
The male has a loud, varied, and sometimes imitative song reminiscent of its relative, the Nightingale. Its call is a typical Chat “chack” noise.