The Bluethroat is a small songbird that breeds across northern and central Europe and Asia. It is a popular species among birdwatchers due to its bright blue bib and elusive nature. Bluethroats spend the winter in the Mediterranean region, north Africa and the Middle East before returning to their breeding grounds in spring. But where exactly can you find a Bluethroat?
Breeding Range
During the spring and summer breeding season, Bluethroats can be found across a large swathe of the Palearctic region of Europe and Asia. Their breeding range extends from Scandinavia in the west across Russia and Siberia to Kamchatka in the Russian Far East.
Some key countries and regions where Bluethroats can be found during breeding season include:
Scandinavia
– Sweden
– Norway
– Finland
Bluethroats breed throughout Sweden, Norway and Finland, particularly in areas with wet meadows, flooded grasslands and willow thickets. Popular birdwatching sites include the Varanger Peninsula in northern Norway.
Baltic States
– Estonia
– Latvia
– Lithuania
The coastal wetlands of the Baltic States such as Matsalu National Park in Estonia offer good opportunities to see breeding Bluethroats.
Russia
Bluethroats can be found across Russia, from the Kola Peninsula in the northwest to as far east as the Kamchatka Peninsula. Key sites include bogs and wetlands along the Pechora River basin and grassy marshes along the Ob River floodplain.
Belarus and Ukraine
Wet meadows in the river valleys of the Pripyat and Dnieper Rivers are home to Bluethroat populations in Belarus and Ukraine. The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone offers excellent birdwatching opportunities.
Poland
Bluethroats breed in wet meadows across Poland, with a particularly high density in the Biebrza Marshes in northeastern Poland.
Germany and Czechia
Small populations breed in wetlands along the northern coast of Germany. In Czechia, they can be found in the ore mountains near the border with Germany.
Hungary
Bluethroats occur at wet grassland sites such as Kis-Balaton in western Hungary.
Romania
The Danube Delta hosts breeding Bluethroats, where they can be seen along willow lined channels and wet meadows.
Migration and Wintering Grounds
Bluethroats spend the winter in regions surrounding the Mediterranean, from North Africa to the Middle East. Some key locations where they can be observed during migration or winter include:
North Africa
– Morocco
– Algeria
– Tunisia
– Egypt
Many Bluethroats winter in coastal wetlands along the North African coast. Sites such as Merja Zerga lagoon in Morocco regularly host large numbers of overwintering birds.
Middle East
– Israel
– Jordan
– Lebanon
– Turkey
Bluethroats overwinter in good numbers around the eastern Mediterranean. Hula Valley in Israel is a top spot for observing large concentrations of Bluethroats in winter.
Southern Europe
– Spain
– France
– Italy
– Greece
Bluethroats occur along the Mediterranean coasts of Spain, France and Italy as they migrate south in autumn or north in spring. The Ebro Delta in Spain is a key migration hotspot.
Cyprus
Being located along the eastern migration flyway, Cyprus plays host to many Bluethroats each spring and autumn as they pass through on migration. Cape Greco offers excellent sightings.
Region | Breeding Range | Migration/Wintering Range |
---|---|---|
Scandinavia | Sweden, Norway, Finland | – |
Baltic States | Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania | – |
Russia | Across western and central Russia | – |
Eastern Europe | Belarus, Ukraine, Poland | – |
Central Europe | Germany, Czechia, Hungary, Romania | – |
North Africa | – | Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt |
Middle East | – | Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey |
Southern Europe | – | Spain, France, Italy, Greece |
Cyprus | – | Key migration hotspot |
Habitat Preferences
Bluethroats are strongly associated with wet and damp habitats across their range. Some key habitat types to search for them in include:
Wet Meadows
Grassy meadows with high water tables or seasonal flooding provide perfect conditions for breeding Bluethroats. They construct nests low in vegetation or directly on the ground.
Willow Thickets
Willows naturally occur around wetlands and provide cover for Bluethroats. Search along willow lined rivers, marshes and bog edges.
Reedbeds
Extensive reedbeds with some scrubby vegetation interspersed provide nesting and sheltering spots. Reedbeds around lakes and reservoirs can hold Bluethroats.
Ditches and Dykes
Slow flowing irrigation ditches and channels with associated marginal vegetation are used by Bluethroats. Check grassy dykes around wet pastures.
Marshy Grasslands
Low-lying flooded grasslands are favoured, especially extensive wet pastures, hay meadows and unimproved grazing marshes.
Coastal Lagoons
Brackish lagoons fringed with reedbeds are used as stopover points during migration near the Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts.
When to Look
Breeding Season
The breeding season lasts from around mid-April to late July across most of the range. Males arrive back earlier on the breeding grounds and establish territories. Peak breeding activity occurs in May and June.
Migration
Northward migration to the breeding grounds begins in late March and runs through to mid-May. Autumn migration back south takes place between early August and mid-October.
Winter
Most Bluethroats are present on their wintering grounds between November and February before commencing spring migration.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wintering | Wintering | Migration | Breeding | Breeding | Breeding | Breeding | Migration | Migration | Migration | Wintering | Wintering |
Behaviour and Habits
Foraging
Bluethroats forage mainly on the ground or in low vegetation. They hunt for insects, spiders and other small invertebrates.
Nesting
The nest is a neat cup built close to the ground. It is constructed from grasses and lined with finer materials like hair.
Song and Calls
The Bluethroat’s song is a distinctive scratchy warbling, ending in a whistle. The common call is a hard repetitive “tac”.
Activity
Most active in early mornings and evenings on breeding grounds. Spend a lot of time hidden in thick vegetation but can be enticed into view by “squeaking”.
Notable Behaviours
– Males have song flights displays during breeding season.
– Both sexes have distinct fluttering display flight.
– Males are highly territorial and defend nesting areas.
– Young birds form loose flocks after breeding season.
Best Ways to See One
Here are some top tips for upping your chances of observing a Bluethroat:
Visit known hotspots
Focus on visiting sites with reliable and abundant populations during the right season. Use online birding resources to check recent sightings.
Search suitable habitat
Target wet and marshy areas with dense vegetation like willows, reeds and rank grass. Scan carefully for signs of movement.
Focus early and late
Bluethroats are most active at dawn and dusk. Make an effort to be in the field early morning or late evening.
Listen for songs and calls
Their distinctive songs and repetitive calls will give away the presence of Bluethroats. Learn the sounds online beforehand.
Be patient
They can be tricky to observe well, often skulking in cover. Take your time and wait quietly in one spot to improve luck.
Attract with “squeaking”
Try “squeaking” by kissing the back of your hand. It mimics nestling calls and may entice a Bluethroat into view.
Use playback sparingly
Judicious use of Bluethroat song playback can pull a curious bird into the open, but do so sparingly as overuse causes disturbance.
Conservation Status
The Bluethroat has an extremely large global population estimated at between 19 and 48 million individual birds. The population appears to be steady or increasing overall and is not believed to approach the threshold for being considered vulnerable. For these reasons, the Bluethroat is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. There are no major threats causing widespread declines currently.
Conclusion
In summary, the secretive Bluethroat breeds across northern Eurasia but can be found by birdwatchers who visit areas of suitable wetland habitat, especially around dawn and dusk in spring. Patience and knowledge of its preferred marshy habitats and distinctive song are the keys to success. Protected areas in northern Europe, Russia and the Middle East provide the best opportunities to catch a glimpse of this much sought after species. With a little effort, you should be rewarded with a sighting of a male Bluethroat flaunting his eye-catching blue bib.