Bluethroat - variation/ssp.; Bandenburg, Germany (1 Viewer)

[fabalis]

Hi Guys,

is this bib variation of L. s. cyanecula or perhaps a hint to ssp. L. s. azuricollis? Brandenburg; Germany

f.

 

[Andy Adcock]

They are massively variable from classic white / red spotted birds but also lots of intermediates.

Can't help with your bird but here are a couple from my patch in Russia to illustrate the variation.

 

[fabalis]

Ok, there is variability in bib-coloration esp. in cyanecula but there were no white feathes seen on bloated throat - not even white line and limited black on edge blue/red

Cheers - f.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Ok, there is variability in bib-coloration esp. in cyanecula but there were no white feathes seen on bloated throat - not even white line and limited black on edge blue/red

Cheers - f.

I think with many intermediates, it's guesswork, do you get both there or is one form more common?

 

[kuzeycem]

I recall there being a morph (?) of cyanecula with no throat spot at all, I believe it was called something like wolfii. Either way I don't think your bird can be safely attributed to any subspecies.

 

[lou salomon]

pure blue is seen in azuricollis and magna, neither of them are even close in range and likely to occure in brandenburg. and i also agree on the variability in cyanecula with some ind. being (almost or all?) blue breasted. so, it's not likely to be able to put a definite subspecies name to it.

 

[Andy Adcock]

pure blue is seen in azuricollis and magna, neither of them are even close in range and likely to occure in brandenburg. and i also agree on the variability in cyanecula with some ind. being (almost or all?) blue breasted. so, it's not likely to be able to put a definite subspecies name to it.

What about mine Lou, I haven't seen one with a white, breastband before?

 

[lou salomon]

What about mine Lou, I haven't seen one with a white, breastband before?

sorry, can't help but i suspect it is a 2cy male, with not fully developed plumage. still, variation is large and i'm really not in the position to comment on all oddities, i don't know bluethroat subsp. and their variations well.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Bert,
interesting bird, thanks for sharing!

What I find equally interesting is the colouration of the bird; the blue is quite cold (giving it some kind if a steel-blue quality). the bird looks very grey and white to me, almost (or even completly?) entirely lacking brown tones. Is this just about the picture, or represents this the real colours of the bird?

 

[fabalis]

Hi Alexander,
picture was taken in dusk with poor Handy-camera. The body-feathering did not strike me that much. See the raw pic for impression

Thanx to all of you - f.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hi, Bert,
thanks for the original picture and the additional information ! Then the lack of brownish tones might well be the result of the Handy-camera and high iso, especially when the bird doesnt looked striking to you.
There is a helpful picture posted recently of a Bluethroat at the coldest, greyish end of variation for a Bluethroat from Germany:

Club300 Germany

Club300 Germany

It still has clear brown tones to ear-coverts and a just visible warm cream tinge to the wing-coverts, but the lack of this in your bird might be that such fine hues are lost in this picture, as I understand (and I maybe squeezed to much out of your picture)

 

[harley7642]

I don't know if this will help with your research, I saw this Bluethroat in the Keoladeo N P in India January 2020