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Latin name

Luscinia svecica

Family

Chats and thrushes (Turdidae)

Overview

A small robin-like bird, the male is unmistakable in spring with his bright blue throat, bordered below with bands of black, white and chestnut. Its central throat spot can be white or chestnut, depending on which subspecies you are looking at -'white-spotted' or the more numerous 'red-spotted'. They can be quite secretive, flicking into the cover of a bush with a flash of their chestnut tail patches.

Where to see them

Best looked for along the east coast in spring and autumn in scrub and grassy areas. Usually seen hopping along the ground or ducking into low cover.

When to see them

Usually seen on passage in May and early June (the 'white-spotted' bluethroat passes through slightly earlier in spring - in late March and April), and again in August to October.

What they eat

Insects, caterpillars and berries.

Estimated numbers

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

In the UK

From N Scotland down E and S coasts of England

In Europe

N, Central and S Europe, few in West

Worldwide

Europe, Asia, Africa and Alaska

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)