• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Bluey Birds, Marettimo Sicily (1 Viewer)

Kinthissa

Well-known member
In January 2017, I photographed a striking blueblack bird on Marettimo which was identified on the forum as Blue Rock Thrush.

Here are some more bluey birds I've seen there on subsequent visits.

I believe nos. 1 and 4 are Blue Rock Thrush, but am not sure of the birds in nos.2,3 & 5.

1) October 2017 - looks like Blue Rock thrush
2 & 3) November 2017 - what are these?
4) November 2019 - looks like the Blue Rock thrush
5) November 2019 - same as nos.2&3 bluey but not Blue Rock thrush, what are they?
 

Attachments

  • p1340530.1200.900.1600.1200.i960.jpg
    p1340530.1200.900.1600.1200.i960.jpg
    138 KB · Views: 60
  • p1350203.600.820.2400.1600.i960.jpg
    p1350203.600.820.2400.1600.i960.jpg
    167.7 KB · Views: 49
  • p1350204.900.900.1600.1200.i960.jpg
    p1350204.900.900.1600.1200.i960.jpg
    178.7 KB · Views: 49
  • p1530009.1100.900.1600.1200.i960.jpg
    p1530009.1100.900.1600.1200.i960.jpg
    198.8 KB · Views: 70
  • p1530203.1100.1200.1600.1200.i960.jpg
    p1530203.1100.1200.1600.1200.i960.jpg
    127.1 KB · Views: 39
Apart from size difference of the Black Redstarts (distinctly smaller) amongst other things note the English name - 'Redstart' means 'Red tail', which can be seen in 4) and worth looking out for (occasionally harder to see, but usually more obvious than on this bird).
 
Apart from size difference of the Black Redstarts (distinctly smaller) amongst other things note the English name - 'Redstart' means 'Red tail', which can be seen in 4) and worth looking out for (occasionally harder to see, but usually more obvious than on this bird).
Also the Italian name 'Codirosso spazzacamino' ("chimneysweep redtail") - the second part 'spazzacamino' nicely referring to its habit of sitting on chimneys and rooftops :t:
 
"codirosso spazzacamino" ... thank you all for your responses. I love Redstarts.

The Common RS nests in the walls of our house, we see them from May through to September, and when they are gone, the Black Redstart appears and is often about during winter, even roosts sometimes on the rafters of the porch.

I hadn't recognized the bluey ones in photos 2, 3 & 5 as Black Redstart. Are they not too bluey for Black RS? But what else could they be?

The little birds 2, 3 and 5 above did not display the ever-shimmering tail so characteristic of Redstarts, nor the languid way they fly which shows off the red undertails. Those darted about more like regular little chubby birds.

Photo 4 in the first series which you've identified as a male Black RS does show a rosiness under the tail, but the beak seems bigger than the Redstart's, a different shape. Again, more bluey than Black RS I have seen. Is it a matter of age, are there hybrids?

The male Black Redstart I am used to seeing is like in the three photographs below from last autumn on Marettimo. Does the beak not look different from that of the birds in photos 2,3,4,5?

I am only puzzling out aloud, I accept the identification. Thank you!
 

Attachments

  • p1520617.1100.600.2400.1800.i1200.jpg
    p1520617.1100.600.2400.1800.i1200.jpg
    197.4 KB · Views: 14
  • p1520660.800.600.2400.1800.i1200.jpg
    p1520660.800.600.2400.1800.i1200.jpg
    163.1 KB · Views: 11
  • p1520661.800.600.2400.1800.i1200.jpg
    p1520661.800.600.2400.1800.i1200.jpg
    165.1 KB · Views: 13
Warning! This thread is more than 4 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top