Siberian Blue Robin

Larvivora cyane

Family: Chats, Old World Flycatchers, and Allies · Status: Uncommon migrant · Size: 13.5–14.5 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds across eastern Russia, northeastern China, Japan and Korea, wintering in southern China, Indochina, the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and Borneo.

Identification

Male has dark blue upperparts, a black face and neck sides extending to the flanks, and white underparts, with pinkish legs. Female has greyish-brown upperparts with bluish-tinged wings, rump and tail, buffish-white throat and variably scaled throat-sides and breast. First-winter male resembles female but has more blue on the wings and tail.

Habitat

Damp secondary forest, forest edges, wooded parks and gardens; favours areas near streams.

Behaviour

Forages on the forest floor, running and hopping through leaf litter. Often seen bathing in forest streams at dusk. Habitually twitches tail up and down.