Scientific name: Tarsiger cyanurus (Pallas, 1773)
Bird group: Thrushes and allies
Field characters. 14 cm. Like a Common Redstart in size and structure. Male dark blue on head, upperparts and tail, with paler, bright blue rump. Throat white, breast and underparts grey with darker streaks and flanks orange. Female brown where male is blue, with prominent white eye-ring, paler blue rump and dark blue tail. Juvenile spotted and streaked, like juvenile European Robin, but tail grey-blue. Shy. Constantly flicks wing and tail.
Voice. Call 'tic', like European Robin and 'huiet'. Song rich and thrush- or Common Redstart-like.
Distribution. Rare summer visitor in north-eastern part of region, perhaps almost absent in some years.
Habitat. Remote moist coniferous and mixed woods with dense undergrowth.
Food. Mainly invertebrates, also seeds and fruits. Searches food in trees, but also frequently on the ground.