The white-throated robin, or irania, is a small, sexually dimorphic, migratory passerine bird. The vernacular and genus name Irania alludes to Iran, its type locality, while the specific name gutturalis is Medieval Latin for "of the throat". It breeds in western Asia and overwinters in East Africa.
Region
Western Asia (breeding) and East Africa (wintering)
Typical Environment
Breeds on scrubby, rocky hillsides and montane slopes with scattered bushes and low trees across parts of Turkey, the Caucasus, northern Iraq, and Iran. It favors juniper and oak scrub, orchards, and bushy ravines during the breeding season. In winter it occupies dry thornbush, savanna edges, coastal thickets, and well-vegetated wadis from Ethiopia and Somalia south to Kenya and northern Tanzania. During migration it uses vegetated oases, gardens, and hedgerows, often keeping close to dense cover.
Altitude Range
0–2800 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This monotypic species (the only member of the genus Irania) breeds in western Asia and winters in East Africa. Males are striking with a crisp white throat and blue‑grey upperparts, while females are browner and more cryptic. It is a famed long‑distance migrant and an occasional vagrant to Europe, including rare records in the United Kingdom. The genus name alludes to Iran, its type locality.
Temperament
shy and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with frequent tail flicks
Social Behavior
Territorial during the breeding season; pairs form on the breeding grounds and defend scrubby patches. Nests are low in dense shrubs or among rocks; clutch is incubated mainly by the female, with both parents feeding the nestlings. Outside breeding, it is generally solitary or in loose associations in good feeding areas.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
The male delivers a rich, melodious warble with varied whistles and trills from an exposed perch or within a bush. Calls include sharp ticks and soft chacks, often given when alarmed or while foraging.
