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Siberian Rubythroat

Siberian Rubythroat

Calliope calliope

Identify the Siberian Rubythroat by sound or photo and log your sightings with Birdpass.

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The Siberian Rubythroat is a small, chat-like songbird, slightly larger than a European Robin. Males have a striking ruby-red throat bordered with black and white stripes, while females are browner and pale-throated. It breeds in Siberia and East Asia and winters in South and South-East Asia. Formerly placed in Luscinia, it is now in the genus Calliope. It is a very rare vagrant to Europe.

Did you know?

  • Its genus name, Calliope, comes from the Greek muse of eloquence and means “beautiful-voiced”.
  • Despite breeding in Siberia, it very occasionally turns up in western Europe.

About the species

Identification

Slightly larger than a Robin, brown above and brownish grey below. The male has a brilliant ruby-red throat, a bold white supercilium and white moustachial stripe; the female has a white throat and a dull whitish supercilium. Young birds may have brownish tips to the greater coverts, and their head pattern is duller.

Family

Turdidae

Size

Small (sparrow)

Colours

brown, red, white, grey

About the habitat

Dense undergrowth, thickets and scrub in mixed and coniferous forest, often near water; in winter scrub, grassland and gardens in tropical Asia.

Diet

Mainly insects and other small invertebrates, found on the ground or in low vegetation; some berries in autumn.

Behaviour

A migratory, skulking bird that keeps close to dense undergrowth, often cocking its tail. Males sing a loud, rich and varied warbling song from low perches, often at night. It nests on or near the ground in thick cover.

Sources

Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/), CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Luscinia calliope - Pak Chong 2.jpg

Text: Wikipedia (English), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_rubythroat

See also