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Siberian rubythroat found dead in Cumbria after cat brings it indoors
An exceptionally rare Siberian rubythroat was found dead in Brampton, Cumbria, after a cat brought it into its owner’s home. The discovery highlights how far off course the bird had travelled and the risks domestic cats can pose to wildlife.
Cumbria’s county bird recorder said there were only 17 accepted British records of the species from 1975 to 2022. The bird likely came from Siberia and weighed 28g, far below the roughly 75g typical of a healthy rubythroat; at this time of year, the species would usually be heading to South-East Asia. A birding website editor suggested cat owners fit warning bells to their pets’ collars.
In short
- A rare Siberian rubythroat died after a cat caught it in Cumbria.
- Only 17 British records were accepted from 1975 to 2022.
- The bird weighed 28g, compared with about 75g when healthy.
Explained simply
The Siberian rubythroat is a small songbird that breeds in northern Asia and usually migrates to South-East Asia for winter. It is rarely seen in Britain: only 17 records were accepted between 1975 and 2022.
Birds that turn up far outside their usual route are described as vagrants, often after being blown off course or becoming lost. Their long journey can leave them exhausted, and domestic cats can also catch birds, creating risks for wildlife as well as an unusual find for birdwatchers.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “Extremely rare songbird that had flown to UK from Siberia is found dead after it was caught by a cat”.