Red-flanked Bluetail

Tarsiger cyanurus

Introduction

Once regarded as an extreme vagrant, records of this relative of the Robin have increased dramatically, likely following a marked population increase in the forests of eastern Finland, where it was first recorded breeding in the 1940s.

This migratory species breeds from Finland east to Kamchatka and winters across parts of China.

Key Stats

Status

Rare

Weight

14g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

1.9k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Lincolnshire, 1903

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.3%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter Distribution for Red-flanked Bluetail

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution for Red-flanked Bluetail

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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Red-flanked Bluetail is a rare vagrant, though increasing; usually recorded in October there are now some spring records, presumably involving birds that have overwintered undetected or further south.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Red-flanked Bluetail movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Red-flanked Bluetail, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Red-flanked Bluetail

Classification and Codes

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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Scientific name: Tarsiger cyanurus
Authority: Pallas, 1773

BTO 5-letter code: REFBL
Euring code number: 11130

Alternate species names

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Catalan: cotxa cuablava
Czech: modruška tajgová
Danish: Blåstjert
Dutch: Blauwstaart
Estonian: sinisaba
Finnish: sinipyrstö
French: Robin à flancs roux

German: Blauschwanz
Hungarian: kékfarkú
Icelandic: Bláskotta
Italian: Codazzurro
Latvian: rudsanu zilastite
Lithuanian: paprastoji melynuodege
Norwegian: Blåstjert

Polish: modraczek (zwyczajny)
Portuguese: pisco-de-flanco-ruivo
Slovak: modravec cervenoboký
Slovenian: plavšcica
Spanish: Ruiseñor coliazul
Swedish: tajgablåstjärt
Welsh: Cynffonlas Ystlysgoch

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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