Bluethroat

Luscinia svecica (Linnaeus, 1758) BU BLUTH 11060
Family: Passeriformes > Muscicapidae

This striking species shows tremendous variation in the intensity of its blue throat and in the colour and shape of any throat spot.

Although predominantly a scarce visitor to our shores, Bluethroat has bred here on a number of occasions.

Records come from throughout the year but with spring and autumn peaks, the latter the larger of these.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Bluethroat

• Breeding
• Winter

100% Expansion

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

SEASONALITY

16.7g

WEIGHT

5–7

EGGS

5k records

BTO RECORDS

-100% Contraction

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

SEASONALITY

14-
20g

WEIGHT

5k records

BTO RECORDS

Identification

Bluethroat identification is often straightforward.

Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	Yes
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(I), WBD (I), Bern(III), Bonn(II)

POPULATION SIZE

BOU Category	A
First Record	Northumberland, 1826

POPULATION CHANGE

The Bluethroat is an occasional breeder in the UK with the most recent breeding record in 2016 (Ince 2018).

DISTRIBUTION

This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

• 

• 

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

No. occupied in breeding season	2
% occupied in breeding season	0.07
No. occupied in winter	11
% occupied in winter	0.4

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

% change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11)	+100%
% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)	--100%

SEASONALITY

Bluethroat is a scarce migrant, with two subspecies; white-spotted birds can occur from late winter onwards whereas red-spotted birds are more likely to be seen in May. Also a scarce migrant in late autumn.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

An overview of year-round movements for the whole of Europe can be seen on the EuroBirdPortal viewer.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Bluethroat, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Number of Broods	01–Feb
Egg Size	18×14 mm    Weight = 2 g (of which 5% is shell)

BIOMETRICS

Wing Length	Adults	74.8±2.4 | Range 71–78.5mm, N=64
	Juveniles	74±2.9 | Range 69-79mm, N=52
	Males	76.1±1.9 | Range 72–79mm, N=37
	Females	73±1.7 | Range 70–75mm, N=27

Body Weight	Adults	16.7±2.2 | Range 14.1–20.4g, N=63
	Juveniles	16.6±2.9 | Range 13.5–25.0g, N=53
	Males	16.9±1.8 | Range 14.3–21.0g, N=36
	Females	16.4±2.5 | Range 13.9–18.9g, N=27

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

Ring size	A
Field Codes	2-letter: BU | 5-letter code: BLUTH | Euring: 11060

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Gaelic: Òranaiche

Welsh: Bronlas Smotyn

Catalan: cotxa blava

Czech: slavík modrácek

Danish: Blåhals

Dutch: Blauwborst

Estonian: sinirind

Finnish: sinirinta

French: Gorgebleue à miroir

German: Blaukehlchen

Hungarian: kékbegy

Icelandic: Blábrystingur

Irish: Gormphíb

Italian: Pettazzurro

Latvian: zilriklite

Lithuanian: paprastoji melyngurkle

Norwegian: Blåstrupe

Polish: podrózniczek

Portuguese: pisco-de-peito-azul

Slovak: slávik modrák

Slovenian: modra tašcica

Spanish: Ruiseñor pechiazul

Swedish: blåhake

Research

Interpretation and scientific publications about Bluethroat from BTO scientists.