Bluethroat Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)

The Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) is a rare passage migrant in the UK and is only likely to be seen around the eastern coastal areas of England and Scotland and down the south and southwestern coastal areas of England as far as Cornwall.

They typically pass through during March to May and again during August to October. Roughly the size of a Robin, the male Bluethroat is easily recognised by his bright blue throat (from which the species is named), which has bands of black, white and reddish-brown or chestnut.

The rest of the bird is brownish in colour but there are two subspecies, one has a red spot in the blue throat, while the other has a white spot. In both species, there is a black tail with distinctive red side patches. The female is less flamboyantly coloured and lacks the vibrant throat patch.

In this article we’ll be taking a closer look at the life cycle of the Bluethroat from nest building to fledging. Keep reading to find out more.

How Long Does A Bluethroat Live?

The average life expectancy of the Bluethroat is around 1 to 5 years in the wild. However, there was one individual bird that lived for more than 11 years according to ring data.

There are a number of factors that can affect the longevity of the Bluethroat which include, weather conditions, the abundance of food, predation as well as illness and disease.

How Fast Can A Bluethroat Fly?

The Bluethroat can fly at speeds between 20 to 30 miles per hour (32 to 48 km/h) during sustained flight. They are agile fliers, particularly good at navigating dense vegetation and covering long migratory distances.

In a recent study it was found that some European Bluethroats travelled an average of around 3,923 miles (6,314 kilometres) to overwinter in India. Their endurance during migration is more notable than their peak flight speed.

Are Bluethroats Aggressive?

Bluethroats are generally not considered aggressive birds. They are territorial, especially during the breeding season, and can display defensive behaviours to protect their nesting area from intruders, particularly other males. During this time, they will sing, perform threat displays, or chase away rivals.

However, their aggression is mostly limited to these territorial disputes, and they are not aggressive towards humans or other species. Outside the breeding season, Bluethroats are more solitary and less likely to be confrontational.

What Is A Bluethroat’s Habitat?

Bluethroats live in a variety of habitats depending on the season. During the breeding season, they are to be found in dense thickets of willow or wet birch. They are often spotted alongside streams or lakes but can also be seen in the areas between forests and plains.

In winter, they prefer reedbeds, mangroves and swampy thickets as well as irrigated crop fields.

How Long Does It Take For A Bluethroat To Build A Nest?

It can take anywhere between a few days to a week for the female Bluethroat to build her nest. It is cup shaped and constructed from grass, leaves and moss and is hidden in dense vegetation close to a source of water.

The nest will be built either on the ground or close to it and the actual time taken to build it will depend on a number of factors. These include, the age and experience of the female and the availability of suitable nesting materials.

Eggs

Once the female is happy with the construction and siting of the nest, she will lay her eggs.

When Do Bluethroats Lay Eggs?

The breeding season for Bluethroats usually starts in late April or early May and runs through to July. Although, in some parts of the world, the Bluethroat can start breeding in February.

How Many Eggs Does A Bluethroat Lay?

The female will lay a clutch of anywhere between 4 to 8 eggs with 5 to 6 being the average clutch size. The number of eggs laid depends on the health and age of the female with healthier, more experienced females more likely to lay more eggs.

What Do Bluethroat Eggs Look Like?

The eggs of the Bluethroat are pale blue or bluish-green in colour and covered with reddish-brown speckling. Each oval egg is around 18 x 14 mm in size and weighs around 2 grams.

How Long Do Bluethroat Eggs Take To Hatch?

The eggs are incubated for around 13 to 15 days before they hatch. The female incubates the eggs on her own with the male standing guard and bringing her food.

Chicks

Once the eggs hatch we move onto the next stage in the life cycle of the Bluethroat, the chicks.

How Many Chicks Does A Bluethroat Have?

The number of chicks that survive to the hatchling stage should correspond to the number of eggs laid. However, this isn’t always the case.

In most instances, around 50 to 60% of eggs laid actually hatch. This means that from a clutch of 6 eggs, we can expect around 3 to 4 chicks to survive to the hatchling stage.

When Do Bluethroat Chicks Open Their Eyes?

Bluethroat chicks are altricial which means they are naked, blind and completely dependent on their parents when they first hatch. They open their eyes around 5 or 6 days after hatching.

Both parents feed the chicks with protein rich foods which help them grow and develop at a fast rate.

When Do Bluethroat Chicks Fledge?

Bluethroat chicks develop quickly and typically fledge (leave the nest and take their first flight), around 13 to 14 days after hatching. If the female starts a second brood, the male will take care of the first chicks on his own.

Whether they produce one or two broods depends on the geographic location of the breeding pair. Those that breed in northern latitudes will only produce one brood whilst those that live closer to the equator will often raise two broods per season.

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