Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Red-flanked bluetail

Tarsiger cyanurus, Peter Simon Pallas, 1773

(In Thai: นกเขนน้อยข้างสีส้มคิ้วขาว)

The red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus), also known as the 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, Muscicapidae. It, and related species, are often called chats.

Habitat

It is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in mixed coniferous forest with undergrowth in northern Asia and northeastern Europe, from Finland east across Siberia to Kamchatka and south to Japan. It winters mainly in southeastern Asia, in the Indian Subcontinent, the Himalayas, Taiwan, and northern Indochina. The breeding range is slowly expanding westwards through Finland (where up to 500 pairs now breed), and it is a rare but increasing vagrant to western Europe, mainly to Great Britain. There have also been a few records in westernmost North America, mostly in western Alaska, but one on San Clemente Island off the southern California coast.

Description

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 breast. In behaviour, it is similar to a common redstart, frequently flicking its tail in the same manner, and regularly flying from a perch to catch insects in the air or on the ground. The male sings its melancholy trill from treetops. Its call is a typical chat "tacc" noise. The nest is built on or near the ground, with 3–5 eggs which are incubated by the female.

Taxonomy and nomenclature

The genus name Tarsiger is from Ancient Greek tarsos, "flat of the foot" and Latin gerere, "to carry". The specific cyanurus is also derived from Greek, the roots being kuanos, "dark-blue", and oura, "tail".

In the past generally treated as comprising two subspecies, T. c. cyanurus breeding in northern Asia and T. c. rufilatus breeding in the Himalaya, it is now increasingly being treated as monotypic, with T. c. rufilatus split off as a distinct species, Himalayan bluetail T. rufilatus. The species has also been known by a variety of English and scientific names in the ornithological literature. The table below details the treatments adopted by some major works, by publication date (newest first):

Publication English name Scientific name Taxonomic notes
Red-flanked bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus monotypic; excludes rufilatus
Collins Bird Guide Red-flanked bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus
Red-flanked bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus polytypic; includes rufilatus
Clements Checklist (6th edition) Red-flanked bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus polytypic; includes rufilatus
Northern red-flanked bush-robin Tarsiger cyanurus monotypic; rufilatus split off
HBW Orange-flanked bush-robin Tarsiger cyanurus polytypic; includes rufilatus, although split suggested
Howard & Moore (3rd edition) Orange-flanked bush robin Luscinia cyanura polytypic; includes rufilatus
OBC Checklist Orange-flanked bush robin Tarsiger cyanurus polytypic; includes rufilatus
Howard & Moore (2nd edition) Red-flanked bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus polytypic; includes rufilatus
BWP Red-flanked bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus polytypic; includes rufilatus
Voous Red-flanked bluetail or , orange-flanked bush robin Tarsiger cyanurus polytypic; includes rufilatus

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Category / Seasonal Status

Wiki listed status (concerning Thai population): Winter visitor

BCST Category: Recorded in an apparently wild state within the last 50 years

BCST Seasonal status: Non-breeding visitor

Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Muscicapidae
Genus
Tarsiger
Species
Tarsiger cyanurus

Common names

  • English:
    • Orange-flanked bush robin
    • Red-flanked bluetail
  • Thai: นกเขนน้อยข้างสีส้มคิ้วขาว

Synonyms

  • Erithacus cyanurus
  • Luscinia cyanura

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Photos

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Red-flanked bluetail
Red-flanked bluetail

Copyright cowboy5437

Red-flanked bluetail
Red-flanked bluetail
Red-flanked bluetail range

Range Map

Distribution map of Red-flanked bluetail, Tarsiger cyanurus in Thailand
  • Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai
  • Doi Inthanon National Park
  • Doi Lang
  • Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park
  • Doi Suthep - Pui National Park
  • Khao Yai National Park
  • Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai
  • Samae San Island
Range map of Tarsiger cyanurus in Thailand