Both-spotted Bluethroat (1 Viewer)

[Michael Frankis]

Interesting Bluethroat in Whitley Bay today - Red-spot, or White-spot, or both/hybrid??

Date and site would strongly suggest Red-spot, but here's what the throat looked like . . .

Anyone else ever seen anything like this?

Michael

 

[Jane Turner]

Michael - looks like a Nuclear Warhead to me.. be careful.. Actually seen so few males I can't really comment save that I recall a plate will all sorts of combinations in BWP.

Is the throat acquired by wear or moult?

 

[Andrew]

Now that is something I have thought of many times about hybrids. Let's assume the white and red spotted have been split into full species status and yours is actually a hybrid, what do you tick it as?

The nominate race I presume?

 

[CJW]

what do you tick it as?

Pink-spotted?

 

[Michael Frankis]

Some very useful comment in Svensson:

svecica
First year male: Much as adult male but spot on lower throat creamy white or buff with a little rufous admixed

Other plumage did suggest it was a first-summer bird, so this would fit. Just a nominate svecica.

Michael

 

[Jane Turner]

Did it have partially moulted GCs too? Still jealous, Bluethorats never hang about long enough here to see anything on them!

 

[Michael Frankis]

Did it have partially moulted GCs too?

I'd say yes; I didn't specifically note so, but it was fairly tatty-looking on its coverts. One of the less smart Bluethroats I've seen.

Michael

 

[Birdspotter]

Ah a post to wet the appetite.
Have never found Bluethroat before,although I had a probable hop over a wall once, so I am off to the Isle of May for a week on Sat with Bluethroat as the no1 quarry.
I dont care what the throat looks like as long as its a male!