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19

Bluethroat

(Luscinia svecica)
Alternate name(s): "Red-spotted Bluethroat" (race "svecica");
"White-spotted Bluethroat" (race "cyanecula")
German name(s): "Blaukehlchen"

Size: 13-14 cm; wing span 20-22.5 cm
Weight: 15-25 g
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Bluethroat at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "cyanecula"

ADULT

MALE

Lateral view of a male Bluethroat looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Between Neuharlingersiel and Harlesiel, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]

Lateral view of a male Bluethroat carrying food for its brood (photo courtesy of R. Normand)
[20 km North of Lille, Hauts-de-France, France, May 2020]

Lateral view of a male Bluethroat issuing its call (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Between Neuharlingersiel and Harlesiel, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a male Bluethroat (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Between Neuharlingersiel and Harlesiel, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Bluethroat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, December 2017]

Near-frontal view of a female Bluethroat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, December 2017]

Near-lateral view of a female Bluethroat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, December 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a first-winter female Bluethroat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a first-winter female Bluethroat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2023]

Behaviour

Male Bluethroat surveying its territory in a wheat crop (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Between Neuharlingersiel and Harlesiel, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a male Bluethroat carrying food for its brood (photo courtesy of R. Normand)
[20 km North of Lille, Hauts-de-France, France, May 2020]

Near-lateral view of a female Bluethroat foraging for insects in a marsh (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, December 2017]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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