About the Red-flanked Bluetail
The red-flanked bluetail, also known as the orange-flanked bush-robin, is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It breeds in mixed coniferous forests in northern Asia, parts of central Asia, and northeastern Europe. It is migratory, wintering mainly in southeast Asia, in the Indian subcontinent, the Himalayas, Taiwan, and northern Indochina.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
At 13–14 cm long and 10–18 g weight, the red-flanked bluetail is similar in size and weight to the common redstart and slightly smaller (particularly with a slimmer build) than the European robin. As the name implies, both sexes have a blue tail and rump, and orange-red flanks; they also have a white throat and greyish-white underparts, and a small, thin black bill and slender black legs. The adult male additionally has dark blue upperparts, while females and immature males are plain brown above apart from the blue rump and tail, and have a dusky breasts.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada, France, Netherlands, India, Israel, Mexico, Isle of Man, Luxembourg, Uzbekistan, Estonia, Ukraine.
When to see it
Peak activity in January · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Himalayan BluetailTarsiger rufilatusThe Himalayan bluetail, also called the Himalayan red-flanked bush-robin or orange-flanked bush-robin, 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 of Muscicapidae.
Collared Bush RobinTarsiger johnstoniaeThe collared bush-robin is about 12 cm (4.7 in) long.
Golden Bush RobinTarsiger chrysaeusThis species is typically a 14–15 cm long species of songbird in the family Muscicapidae known for its golden color.
Learn the Red-flanked Bluetail for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.