Highlights from 2012: Bluethroat

I have recently acquired photos taken by Michael Schulz of some nice birds he has seen within Saxony last year, and I would like to share some of the birds which I also had the opportunity to view while birding together.

Today I will start with some nice pics of a cooperative Bluethroat (Blaukehlchen in German):

Luscinia svecica (cyanecula),  male, March 31, 2012, Stoehna

This male was singing his heart out in typical habitat where Bluethroats are found in Saxony: marshy lake border with reeds with nearby trees, such as willow. This is the L. s. cyanecula subspecies of south/central Europe with the white breast dot. Besides the bright blue bib, bordered below by narrow black and white bands, and then a thicker rusty-red band, notable field marks include the strong white supercilium (eyebrow) and rusty-red tail base (better seen below). Interesting to note from the photo below, is the presence of several buff-tinged underwing-coverts.

Luscinia svecica (cyanecula),  male, March 31, 2012, Stoehna

Cannot wait until spring returns, and these brilliant fellows follow in its wake!