Red-flanked bluetail

Tarsiger cyanurus

Photo by Jari Peltomäki (Luonto Portti)

Common name:

red-flanked bluetail (en); rouxinol-rabiazul (pt); rossignol à flanc roux (fr); coliazul de cejas blancas (es); blauschwanz (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Muscicapidae

Range:

These migratory bird breed in northern Asia and north-east Europe, from Finland in the east, across Siberia, and all the way to Kamchatka and Japan. They mostly winter in south-east Asia, in southern China, Taiwan and northern Indochina.

Size:

This small passerine is 13-14 cm long and has a wingspan of 22 cm. They weigh 10-18 g.

Habitat:

They breed in mixed coniferous forests with undergrowth. During the winter they also use forested habitats, namely tropical and sub-tropical lowland moist forests, and tropical and sub-tropical mountain moist forests.

Diet:

The red-flanked bluetail is insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects. During the winter they may also eat berries and seeds.

Breeding:

They breed in June-August. The nest is built on or near the ground, often in a hollow among tree roots or in a stump or fallen log. The nest cup consists of moss, grass, and roots, lined with softer grass, wool, hair, and sometimes pine needles. The female lays 3-7 eggs which she incubates alone for 12-15 days. The chicks fledge after about 2 weeks.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

The population is suspected to be stable as there is no evidence for any declines or substantial threats.