Faber Castel Polychromos & Pastel pencils 21×30 cm

The Red-flanked Bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus) used to be super rare in the Netherlands, high on the lists of birders. Fortunately, they are now seen somewhere every year as a migrant, especially in the North Holland dune areas and on the Wadden Islands Texel, Vlieland, Schiermonnikoog. October is the best month to spot this bird. But nevertheless still rare and still on many lists. Also on mine, because I too have never seen them in real life.

It is a little gem, they are about 13-14 cm tall. Especially the male in breeding plumage is very beautiful when seen in the light. The upper side is a beautiful dark blue, while the tail is a bit lighter blue. The flanks are orange and the belly white. The brow begins white, but soon turns light blue. Females and young birds are less brightly colored, but still have a blue tail and orange flanks. They also have a white eye ring.

The blue-tailed breeds mainly in the taiga forests of northern and eastern Finland, Russia, and extends into Mongolia, China, Korea and Japan. Its breeding range is expanding westward, which explains why it is now seen more frequently in the Netherlands. They prefer moist coniferous forests with dense undergrowth. In winter, they migrate to Southeast Asia.

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