The Siberian blue robin is a small passerine bird that was formerly classified as a member of the thrush family, Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to belong to the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae. It and similar small European species are often called chats. Recent research suggests that this species and some other East Asian members of Luscinia should be classified in a new genus, together with the Japanese and Ryūkyū robins. The genus name Larvivora comes from the Neo-Latin larva meaning caterpillar and -vorus meaning eating, and cyane is Latin for "dark-blue".
Region
East Asia and Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Breeds across the East Palearctic from Siberia and the Russian Far East through Northeast China and Korea into northern Japan, favoring moist, shady forests. In the nonbreeding season it migrates to Southeast Asia, wintering from southern China and northern Thailand through the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra and Borneo. Prefers dense understory, bamboo, and thickets near streams or ravines. Often keeps close to the forest floor, using leaf litter and low cover.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy, ground-dwelling robin of dense undergrowth, the male is a striking deep blue above with clean white underparts, while the female is brown and more cryptic. Formerly placed in Luscinia, it is now in Larvivora with several East Asian robins. The genus name refers to caterpillar-eating habits, and the species epithet means dark blue. It often sings from concealed, low perches near forest streams during the breeding season.
Male in Kiso Mountains, Nakatsugawa, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats close to the ground
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs during breeding; nests low or on the ground in dense cover near water. The cup nest is built from leaves and moss, and the female incubates while the male often sings nearby. Outside breeding, it is secretive and maintains loose, low-density territories in wintering grounds.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
A clear, sweet, and slightly melancholy series of whistles delivered from hidden perches, often at dawn and dusk. Calls include thin ticks and high seeps when alarmed or moving through cover.
