Bluethroat

Bluethroat

Taxobox
name = Bluethroat
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
image_width = 240px


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Muscicapidae
genus = "Luscinia"
species = "L. svecica"
binomial = "Luscinia svecica"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Bluethroat ("Luscinia svecica"), is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae. It, and similar small European species, 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 nests in tussocks or low in dense bushes. It winters in north Africa and India.

The Bluethroat is similar in size to the European Robin at 13-14 cm. 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 Eurasia, have a red spot in the centre of the blue bib.

Others, such as "L. svecica cyanecula " (White-spotted Bluethroat) 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. Newly fledged juveniles are freckled and spotted dark brown above.

Despite the distinctive appearance of the males, recent genetic studies show only limited variation between the forms, and confirm that this is a single species.

The male has a loud, varied, and sometimes imitative song reminiscent of its relative, the Nightingale. Its call is a typical chat “chack” noise.


Gallery

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* [http://www.cbs.umn.edu/eeb/faculty/ZinkRobert/Recentevolutionary.pdf Zink "et al."(2003) Recent evolutionary history of the bluethroat ("Luscinia svecica") across Eurasia] "Molecular Ecology" 12:3069-3075


External links

* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=6552 Bluethroat videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.ibercajalav.net/img/330_BluethroatLsvecica.pdf Ageing and sexing (PDF) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta]
* [http://www.birdsnetherlands.nl/bluethroat%20luscinia%20svecica%20netherlands.htm Information and pictures about the Bluethroat in the Netherlands]
* [http://www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/species.jsp?lang=EN&id=2F032C0447A0EA05&ts=1221594067401&sec=summary Avibase]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bluethroat — Blue throat , n. (Zo[ o]l.) A singing bird of northern Europe and Asia ({Cyanecula Suecica}), related to the nightingales; called also {blue throated robin} and {blue throated warbler}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bluethroat — ▪ bird  (Erithacus svecicus or Luscinia svecica), Eurasian chat thrush of the thrush family, Turdidae (order Passeriformes). The bluethroat is aobut 14 centimetres (5 1/2 inches) long and has a bright blue throat, incorporating a crescentic spot… …   Universalium

  • Bluethroat — mėlyngurklė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Luscinia svecica angl. Bluethroat vok. Blaukehlchen …   Paukščių anatomijos terminai

  • bluethroat — paprastoji mėlyngurklė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Luscinia svecica angl. bluethroat vok. Blaukehlchen, n rus. варакушка, f pranc. gorgebleue à miroir, f ryšiai: platesnis terminas – lakštingalos sinonimas –… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • bluethroat — noun A small Old World passerine bird, , the male in spring having a bright blue throat …   Wiktionary

  • bluethroat — n. (Zoology) songbird native to northern Europe and Asia and related to the nightingales …   English contemporary dictionary

  • bluethroat — noun a songbird resembling the robin, of which the male has a blue throat with a red or white spot in the centre. [Luscinia svecicus.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • bluethroat — noun songbird of northern Europe and Asia • Syn: ↑Erithacus svecicus • Hypernyms: ↑thrush • Member Holonyms: ↑Erithacus, ↑genus Erithacus …   Useful english dictionary

  • bluethroat pikeblenny — /blooh throht /. See under pikeblenny. [1870 75; BLUE + THROAT] * * * …   Universalium

  • bluethroat pikeblenny — noun found from Florida to Cuba • Syn: ↑Chaenopsis ocellata • Hypernyms: ↑pikeblenny • Member Holonyms: ↑Chaenopsis, ↑genus Chaenopsis * * * /blooh throht /. See under …   Useful english dictionary

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