‘Incredibly unusual’ bird migrating from Siberia found in Cumbria – killed by cat

A Siberian rubythroat, a bird that normally migrates from Siberia to winter in south or south-east Asia, was found dead in a remote valley in Cumbria after a cat brought it home. The sighting is exceptionally rare and raises questions about why the bird travelled thousands of miles west of its usual route.

Only 17 UK records of Siberian rubythroats have been recorded, with 15 in the northern Scottish isles and just two accepted records from mainland Britain. The bird weighed 28 grams, far below the roughly 73 grams expected, and may have gone unseen because the species is secretive. Academics plan to take samples before it is sent to Tullie House museum in Carlisle.