Thrushes (Turdidae)

Orange-flanked Bush-robin (Tarsiger cyanurus) - HBW 10, p. 754

French: Rossignol à flancs roux German: Blauschwanz Spanish: Ruiseñor Coliazul
Other common names: Red-flanked Bluetail/Bush-robin, Blue-tailed Robin, (Siberian) Bluestart

Taxonomy: Motacilla Cyanurus Pallas, 1773, Yenisey, Russia.
Genus sometimes merged into Luscinia, occasionally into Erithacus. Race rufilatus rather distinctive in both plumage and voice, possibly better treated as a separate species. Proposed race pallidior (NW Himalayas) synonymized with latter. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • cyanurus (Pallas, 1773) - Finland and NW Russia, and from Ural Mts E to Kamchatka, S to N Mongolia, Japan and NE China; non-breeding S & SE Asia.
  • rufilatus (Hodgson, 1845) - NW, C & E Himalayas E to C & S China, probably also N Myanmar; non-breeding also Indochina.