Siberian Rubythroat
Calliope calliope
红喉歌鸲
Introduction
A small passerine bird in the family Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers), formerly classified in Turdidae. Breeds in mixed coniferous forests with undergrowth across Siberia. Nests near the ground. Migratory and insectivorous. Winters in Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. An extremely rare vagrant to Western Europe and the Aleutian Islands.
Description
Slightly larger than the European robin. Upperparts plain brown. Tail is distinctive black with red side patches. Shows a prominent white supercilium. Males have a bright red throat bordered by a narrow black line and a broad white edge. Females are similar but lack the brightly colored throat and borders.
Identification
Similar in size to European robin but with more uniform brown upperparts. The black tail with red patches is distinctive. Males are unmistakable with their red throat bordered by black and white. Females are plainer and lack the red throat. Male's song resembles a harder version of the garden warbler.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds throughout Siberia in mixed coniferous forests with dense undergrowth. Migrates south to winter in Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. An extremely rare vagrant to Western Europe, with only a few records in Britain. Also occurs very rarely in the Aleutian Islands, particularly Attu Island.
Behavior & Ecology
Insectivorous diet. Breeding season involves nest building near the ground in forest undergrowth. Males possess a loud, melodious song described as similar to a harder version of the garden warbler. Often associated with dense vegetation cover. Considered one of the chats along with similar small European species.
Conservation
Information not provided in source text.
Culture
The genus name Calliope derives from classical Greek, meaning 'beautiful-voiced'. In Greek mythology, Calliope was one of the nine muses, presiding over eloquence and heroic poetry.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Calliope
- eBird Code
- sibrub
Subspecies (3)
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Calliope calliope beicki
north-central China
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Calliope calliope calliope
breeds Siberia and northern Mongolia eastward to northeastern China and northern Korean Peninsula; winters to southeastern Asia
-
Calliope calliope camtschatkensis
breeds Kamchatka, Commander Islands, Kuril Islands, and northern Japan; winters to southeastern Asia and Philippines
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.