A vibrant, uncommon fowl with a blue tail is expounded to robins – and it has been noticed within the UK a number of instances already this 12 months.

Feminine red-flanked bluetail, the male is the extra vibrant one of many pair (Picture: Getty Photographs )
A “tremendous uncommon” fowl associated to the robin has been noticed in Kent this month, with earlier experiences of sightings in January. One fowl fanatic described the thrilling second as “a welcome mega to reach on our shores” after listening to it had been noticed within the native space.
The fowl, a red-flanked bluetail, was seen on Sunday, February 1, at Crockham Hill Frequent in Kent – and recorded by the Chook Guides web site. One other fowl lovers web site, eBird, has confirmed a number of additional sightings between January 28 – February 1 of men and women. The red-flanked bluetail is the scale of a robin and because the title suggests, it’s a vibrant little creature, although the feminine is especially brown, she additionally has a blue tail.
The male is a vibrant-looking fowl with brilliant colors on the higher components of the physique – and he has an orange-tinged chest.
Feminine red-flanked bluetails are olive-brown, however nonetheless have a vibrant chest and normally a blue-coloured tail, this fowl species is also referred to as the orange-flanked bush robin.
Reviews to date appear to counsel that it’s a feminine red-flanked bluetail that’s been noticed in Kent – and theories as to why it’s there contemplate “storm misplacement” as a doable issue.
Planet of Birds described the species on-line: “Shut in dimension and construction to European Robin, although barely shorter billed and longer tailed.
“Small, pretty compact chat, with common character recalling each European Robin and Redstart. Feminine boring olive-brown above, with pale eye-ring and darker, blue-washed rump and tail, boring white under, with brown chest and orange flank-panel.”
The Uncommon Chook Alert web site experiences that seeing a red-flanked bluetail was as soon as a “near-mythical rarity”, however, detailing “148 information during the last ten years” sightings might be changing into extra widespread, in line with Uncommon Chook Alert.

Feminine red-flanked bluetail – one has been noticed in Kent (Picture: Getty Photographs )
YouTuber, Stormcat Birds described the sighting as “correct thrilling fowl information” describing seeing a red-flanked bluetail as a “mega mega rarity for southern England”.
Stormcat Birds, talking through their YouTube channel, stated the male red-flanked bluetail seems to be like a “robin that’s been to the paint store”, including that these birds “breed throughout Siberia and east of Japan”.
To get considered one of these “this far west in January”, Stormcat Birds added, might be to do with “storm displacement” – you possibly can watch a video in regards to the species (and see the colorful male) on the Stormcat Birds YouTube channel.
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British Belief for Ornithology described the red-flanked bluetail on their web site: “As soon as thought to be an excessive vagrant, information of this relative of the robin have elevated dramatically, possible following a marked inhabitants improve within the forests of japanese Finland, the place it was first recorded breeding within the Forties.
“This migratory species breeds from Finland east to Kamchatka and winters throughout components of China.”
















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