The Siberian rubythroat is a small passerine bird first described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1776. It was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family, Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher of the family Muscicapidae. The Siberian rubythroat and similar small European species are often called chats.
Region
East Palearctic and South/Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Breeds in the taiga and mixed forests of Siberia and the Russian Far East, favoring dense willow, alder, and birch thickets near clearings and wetlands. During migration it uses brushy edges, reedbeds, and shrubby river corridors. In winter it occupies gardens, bamboo and scrubby woodland, hedgerows, and forest undergrowth across the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It often stays close to the ground, moving through leaf litter and low cover.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2500 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Males flash a brilliant ruby-red throat that glows in low light and is bordered by clean white, making them unmistakable in breeding plumage. A shy skulk, it keeps to dense undergrowth, flicking its tail and delivering a loud, rich song from hidden perches. It breeds across Siberia and the Russian Far East and winters in South and Southeast Asia, with rare vagrant records in Europe.
Temperament
skulking and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, darting flights
Social Behavior
Generally solitary or in pairs during breeding, with males strongly territorial and singing from concealed perches. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low on or near the ground in dense vegetation. Clutches typically contain several pale eggs, and both parents attend the young.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
A loud, rich, and varied warble with clear whistles, trills, and mimicry, often delivered from cover at dawn and dusk. The call is a sharp ticking tak-tak used when alarmed.
