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Difference between revisions of "Bluethroat" - BirdForum Opus

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(Some copied text re-written. Pictures of female & 1st winter male. Subspecies.)
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;[[:Category:Luscinia|Luscinia]] svecica
 
;[[:Category:Luscinia|Luscinia]] svecica
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[[Image:Bluethroat.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|pavlik|pavlik}}<br />Location: Saratov, [[Russia]]]]
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[[Image:Bluethroat.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|pavlik|pavlik}}<br /> Saratov, [[Russia]], April 2004]]
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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The blue throat of a male is, of course, diagnostic. In summer, [[Scandinavia|Scandinavian]] males have a red patch in the blue throat but in birds from elsewhere in [[Europe]] this patch is white. In females, the throat is mostly white, with no blue at all, but enclosed by a dark, blotchy band across the breast. The dark brown plumage with a white eyestripe and a white moustachial stripe recalls a mini-Redwing. The red patches at the sides of the tail are characteristic of Bluethroats of all ages, as is their furtive run-stop-and-flick behaviour.
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*Dark brown plumage
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*White eyestripe
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*White moustachial stripe (reminiscent of a small [[Redwing]]
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*Red patches on tail sides (all ages)<br />
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'''Male''': blue throat, which may have red or white spots depending on the subspecies<br />
 +
'''Female''': throat mainly white with a dark band over the breast
 +
[[Image:Bluethroat 4464.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|jtwood|jtwood}}<br />Quito Do Lago, [[Portugal]], 2009 ]]
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
Main breeding range is in the north and east of the Region, breeds through most of [[Norway]], upland [[Sweden]] and north [[Finland]] and from [[Poland]] and the [[Baltic States]] east to the [[Urals]], breeding south to northern [[Ukraine]]. Also breeds in very scattered pockets across [[Europe]] in [[Spain]] and west and central [[France]] east to [[Hungary]] with an isolated population in the [[Caucasus]] and north-east [[Turkey]]. Has bred in [[Britain]], [[Switzerland]], [[Italy]] and [[Romania]].  
 
Main breeding range is in the north and east of the Region, breeds through most of [[Norway]], upland [[Sweden]] and north [[Finland]] and from [[Poland]] and the [[Baltic States]] east to the [[Urals]], breeding south to northern [[Ukraine]]. Also breeds in very scattered pockets across [[Europe]] in [[Spain]] and west and central [[France]] east to [[Hungary]] with an isolated population in the [[Caucasus]] and north-east [[Turkey]]. Has bred in [[Britain]], [[Switzerland]], [[Italy]] and [[Romania]].  
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Vagrants recorded [[Iceland]] and [[Faroes]], [[Ireland]] and [[Greece]].  
 
Vagrants recorded [[Iceland]] and [[Faroes]], [[Ireland]] and [[Greece]].  
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[[Image:Bluethroat-5095.jpg|thumb|350px|right|1st Winter male <br />Photo by {{user|john-henry|john-henry}}<br />[[Algarve]], [[Portugal]], November 2009]]
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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===Subspecies===
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====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
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A number of races occur in the Western Palearctic some of which are separable in the field, differing in throat colour of breeding male. The nominate ''svecica'' is found over the northern part of the range and has blue throat with red central spot and broad black band beneath. Central European ''cyanecula'' has white throat spot (or rarely none at all), and darker upperparts and ''namnetum'' from western [[France]] is similar but smaller. [[Russia|South Russian]] ''pallidigularis'' has pale chestnut bar or triangle on paler blue throat and narrower black band and Caucasian ''magna'' is similar but larger. However, there is much individual variation and intergradation between races and isolated pockets of red-spotted birds within range of ''cyanecula.''
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A number of races occur in the [[Western Palearctic]] some of which are separable in the field, differing in throat colour of breeding male. The nominate ''svecica'' has a blue throat with red central spot and broad black band beneath. Central European ''cyanecula'' has white throat spot (or, rarely, none at all), and darker upperparts and ''namnetum'' is similar but smaller. [[Russia|South Russian]] ''pallidigularis'' has pale chestnut bar or triangle on paler blue throat and narrower black band and Caucasian ''magna'' is similar but larger.
 +
 
 +
However, there is much individual variation and intergradation between races and isolated pockets of red-spotted birds within range of ''cyanecula.''
 +
 
 +
*''L. s. svecica'': [[Scandinavia]] across [[Siberia]] to western [[Alaska]]; winters North [[Africa]], southern [[Asia]]
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*''L. s. namnetum'': Western [[France]]
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*''L. s. cyanecula'': Central [[Europe]] and [[Spain]]; winters to North [[Africa]]
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*''L. s. volgae'': North-eastern [[Ukraine]] to middle Volga River
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*''L. s. magna'': Caucasus area, eastern [[Turkey]] and [[Iran]]; winters to [[Sudan]] and [[Ethiopia]]
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*''L. s. luristanica'': Armenia to south-western [[Iran]]; winters to [[Iraq]] and the [[Sudan]]
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*''L. s. pallidogularis'': South-western [[Siberia]] to [[Turkmenistan]], Altai Mountains and upper Yenisey
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*''L. s. tianschanica'': Pamir Mountains and Tien Shan Mountains
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*''L. s.a abbotti'': Western [[Pakistan]] and north-western [[India]]
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*''L. s. przewalskii'': Inner [[Mongolia]] to western [[China]] (Qinghai) and southern [[Tibet]]
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*''L. s. kobdensis'': Western [[China]] (Xinjiang)
  
 
See [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=137126 this thread] for a discussion of [[Bluethroat]] subspecies.
 
See [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=137126 this thread] for a discussion of [[Bluethroat]] subspecies.
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==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Breeds on wooded tundra, open birch forest and willow scrub often close to water in thickets beside lakes, rivers and swamps. Out of the breeding season in reedbeds, open grassland and in cultivated areas.
 
Breeds on wooded tundra, open birch forest and willow scrub often close to water in thickets beside lakes, rivers and swamps. Out of the breeding season in reedbeds, open grassland and in cultivated areas.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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The Bluethroat is a ground forager and also captures insects in the air.
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====Movement====
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==Diet==
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The Bluethroat is a ground forager when it constantly runs-stops-and-flicks; it also captures insects in the air.
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====Breeding====
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Breeds in overgrown wet bushy areas.
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====Diet====
 
The diet includes insects, caterpillars and berries
 
The diet includes insects, caterpillars and berries
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===Vocalisation===
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====Vocalisation====
 
<flashmp3>Luscinia svecica (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
<flashmp3>Luscinia svecica (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
''[[Media:Luscinia svecica (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
''[[Media:Luscinia svecica (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#Birdguides
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{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Luscinia+svecica}}  
 
{{GSearch|Luscinia+svecica}}  

Revision as of 21:11, 13 July 2010

Luscinia svecica
Photo by pavlik
Saratov, Russia, April 2004

Identification

  • Dark brown plumage
  • White eyestripe
  • White moustachial stripe (reminiscent of a small Redwing
  • Red patches on tail sides (all ages)

Male: blue throat, which may have red or white spots depending on the subspecies
Female: throat mainly white with a dark band over the breast

Female
Photo by jtwood
Quito Do Lago, Portugal, 2009

Distribution

Main breeding range is in the north and east of the Region, breeds through most of Norway, upland Sweden and north Finland and from Poland and the Baltic States east to the Urals, breeding south to northern Ukraine. Also breeds in very scattered pockets across Europe in Spain and west and central France east to Hungary with an isolated population in the Caucasus and north-east Turkey. Has bred in Britain, Switzerland, Italy and Romania.

A migrant over most of range leaving in August-September to winter around the Mediterranean in small numbers, more commonly in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and returning in March-May. Passage birds occur throughout Europe including Britain where 50-150 occur in most years, mainly on the east coast and Shetland in particular with May and September the peak months.

Vagrants recorded Iceland and Faroes, Ireland and Greece.

1st Winter male
Photo by john-henry
Algarve, Portugal, November 2009

Taxonomy

Subspecies[1]

A number of races occur in the Western Palearctic some of which are separable in the field, differing in throat colour of breeding male. The nominate svecica has a blue throat with red central spot and broad black band beneath. Central European cyanecula has white throat spot (or, rarely, none at all), and darker upperparts and namnetum is similar but smaller. South Russian pallidigularis has pale chestnut bar or triangle on paler blue throat and narrower black band and Caucasian magna is similar but larger.

However, there is much individual variation and intergradation between races and isolated pockets of red-spotted birds within range of cyanecula.

See this thread for a discussion of Bluethroat subspecies.

Habitat

Breeds on wooded tundra, open birch forest and willow scrub often close to water in thickets beside lakes, rivers and swamps. Out of the breeding season in reedbeds, open grassland and in cultivated areas.

Behaviour

Movement

The Bluethroat is a ground forager when it constantly runs-stops-and-flicks; it also captures insects in the air.

Breeding

Breeds in overgrown wet bushy areas.

Diet

The diet includes insects, caterpillars and berries

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Luscinia svecica (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
  2. Birdguides

Recommended Citation

External Links


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