Bluethroat
Newtown, Rajarhat,West Bengal
It's sad that I have only one picture left of this individual. It was a foggy morning in Kolkata. We went to Silicon Valley, also known as Kestrel Ground in Rajarhat. The vast area has gifted us numerous bird species across various seasons. That day, I was randomly searching for warblers in the marshy area when this individual stopped by, striking its signature pose. Oh, what a beauty it was! The blue, rusty necklace was too prominent to go unnoticed. It stayed for a few seconds and then flew away.
Halisahar Loco Shed yard,West Bengal
One of my favorite winter migrant flycatchers is the ground-dwelling bird with a sturdy build, known for hopping and searching for food on the ground, especially in burnt crops and paddy fields. I have seen this bird numerous times in West Bengal, as it is quite common in various areas there. I also noticed that I often saw this bird near mustard fields. I have observed its juvenile, female, immature, and adult forms. The adult male is the most beautiful, with its blue and orange band on the throat. It is not very shy, I noticed, unless you rush toward it while walking. I wish I could upload more photos of it from different locations, but I lost them all after my hard drive crashed.
Information of Bluethroat
| IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): | Least Concern |
|---|---|
| Approximate size(adult): | Length about 13–14 cm; weight ~12–20 g. Small passerine with brown upperparts, whitish underparts, and a striking blue throat in males, often bordered with reddish or white markings; females are duller. |
| Resident/ Migrate from: | Breeds in northern Europe and Asia; migratory species. |
| Migrate to: | Winters in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of North Africa, moving south during autumn. |
| Breeding season: | May to July in breeding range. Males sing prominently to establish territory and attract females. |
| Breed in: | Nests are cup-shaped, built close to the ground in dense shrubs or reeds. Clutch size is typically 4–6 eggs. Both parents feed the chicks. |
| Habitat: | Prefers wet meadows, marshes, reed beds, and shrubby areas near water during breeding; winters in open fields, gardens, and riverine thickets. |
| Diet: | Mainly insects and other small invertebrates, supplemented with berries during migration or winter. Forages by hopping on the ground or gleaning from low vegetation. |