Bluethroat Identification Guide
Its scientific name is 'Luscinia svecica', from the Muscicapidae family (order Passeriformes)
What I look like
The Bluethroat is about the same size as the Robin.
It is quite slender with long, thin legs.
It is easily recognized by the blue color of its throat and chest and its distinct light eyebrow.
In flight, or when its tail is raised, you can see its rufous plumage at the base of the tail.
The male in breeding plumage has a large blue bib bordered by a black and rufous band at the bottom.
In the northern European subspecies, a rusty spot ("rufous mirror") can be seen in the blue of the throat.
In central and southern Europe, a white spot ("white mirror") can be seen...
or none at all.
When autumn arrives, part of the blue plumage becomes whitish-yellow.
The female has an arc of black markings on the throat and a grayish-white chest.
Without the characteristic blue color, females are more difficult to recognize.
Sometimes older females resemble males, as they have a bit of blue, black, and rufous.
Juveniles are spotted like juvenile Robins...
and have rufous markings on the tail.
My songs, my calls
The Bluethroat's contact call is a dry, harsh, repeated "trak".
Its song is loud and varied, with many imitations and improvisations. It features metallic sounds, musical ringing notes, trills, and whistles.
Sometimes it mimics the Black Redstart, with its "huit" calls and rustling paper sound.
How I behave
The Bluethroat is often seen perched, singing in trees.
Its flight is direct and swift. This makes it easy to see the "rufous" color of the tail.
It can stay upright and still for a while in the vegetation.
How I reproduce
The Bluethroat lays two clutches per year of 5 to 6 eggs.
The female builds a cup-shaped nest with dry grass, leaves, moss, and bark.
The nest is placed in a clump of grass or a bush close to the ground.
During courtship, the male sings frequently while performing display flights, showing off the rufous plumage of the tail.
Around the start of laying, the male stays within a meter of the female to prevent other males from stealing her and follows her if she leaves the nest.
What I eat
The Bluethroat is insectivorous.
It also feeds on larvae and berries.
To feed, it stays in the low vegetation.
It turns over leaves and moves along the ground like a mouse to find insects.
It can also catch its prey in flight.
Where to find me
The Bluethroat can be found in the willow forests of northern Europe.
In southern and central Europe, it is found in wetlands, marshes, and along waterways surrounded by bushes and alders.
From March to September, it spends the warmer months in Europe.
It will spend the winter in northeastern Africa or western India.
The Bluethroat can live for about 8 years.