Bluethroat

Blue-throat (Ruticilla suecica), a beautiful singing bird, closely allied to the Redstart (q.v.), visiting Europe, and occasionally Britain, in the summer. These birds feed on earthworms, insects, and berries, and the song is sweet and varied. Length of adult male about 6 in.; upper surface and two central tail feathers rich brown, other tail feathers bright chestnut at lower half, rest black; belly greyish-white; chin, throat, and upper part of breast brilliant blue, bordered below with black, and then a line of white. Three forms exist: (1) with a large spot of bright bay in the centre of the blue; (2) having the bay spot replaced by white; and (3) with the throat entirely blue.