# Red-flanked Bluetail (*Tarsiger cyanurus*) The Red-flanked Bluetail is a small, colorful bird with bright blue wings and a lovely orange belly. It loves to hop around in the bushes and sing sweet songs in the forest. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Red-flanked Bluetail](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ruribitakif1.JPG&width=800) Photo: Materialscientist ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ruribitakif1.JPG) ## Appearance The Red-flanked Bluetail male has a striking bright blue tail, rump, and upperparts, with a black mask and vibrant orange flanks. Its belly is white, contrasting sharply with the rich colors, while females are duller olive-brown with blue tails. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Muscicapidae - **Genus:** Tarsiger ## Interesting facts - During winter, these birds travel from chilly forests to warmer, subtropical lands. - Its bright blue feathers are so vivid, they seem to glow in the shady forest! - Red-flanked Bluetails often nest in tree hollows or old stumps, keeping their eggs safe. - This small bird loves to hop around on the ground, flicking its tail as it searches for food. ## Special abilities - **Long-Distance Navigator:** Red-flanked Bluetail can migrate thousands of kilometers because of its incredible endurance and innate navigational skills. - **Agile Insect Hunter:** Red-flanked Bluetail has keen eyesight and quick reflexes that help them snatch tiny insects from the air or ground. - **Melodious Singer:** Red-flanked Bluetail can produce a beautiful, complex song because of its specialized vocal cords, used for attracting mates. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 13-15 cm - **Wingspan:** 20-24 cm - **Weight:** 0.011-0.018 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-6 - **Incubation:** 14-15 days - **Migration Distance:** 5000 km ## Diet & Feeding This little bird mostly eats insects and spiders, but enjoys some berries too! - **Primary Foods:** Beetles, Ants, Flies, Caterpillars, Spiders, Berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — A primary food source. - **Eats:** Red Elderberry (*Sambucus racemosa*) — Provides crucial winter berries. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Sparrowhawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-sparrowhawk) (*Accipiter nisus*) — A common aerial predator. - **Eaten by:** [Stoat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stoat) (*Mustela erminea*) — Hunts eggs and young in nests. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and be quiet so you don’t scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red-flanked Bluetail? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Red-flanked Bluetail? 13-15 cm ### What is Red-flanked Bluetail's wingspan? 20-24 cm ### How much does Red-flanked Bluetail weigh? 0.011-0.018 kg ### How long does Red-flanked Bluetail live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Red-flanked Bluetail move? 40 km/h ### What does Red-flanked Bluetail eat? This little bird mostly eats insects and spiders, but enjoys some berries too! ### Where is Red-flanked Bluetail usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [South Bonnie Brae Tract Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-bonnie-brae-tract-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Setonaikai National Park: a Goshikidai nature day](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/setonaikai-national-park-goshikidai) — Kansai / Chugoku / Shikoku / Kyushu, JP · Park - [Higashitakane Forest Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/higashitakane-forest-park) — Kanagawa, JP · Park - [Nanasawa Forest Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nanasawa-forest-park) — Kanagawa, JP · Park - [Hachikokuyama Green Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hachikokuyama-green-space) — Tokyo, JP · Park [View all places to see Red-flanked Bluetail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-flanked-bluetail) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Red-flanked Bluetail: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-flanked-bluetail)