A Siberian rubythroat, a species vanishingly rare in the UK, has died after being brought home by a pet cat in Brampton, Cumbria. The cat's owner reported the kill to the RSPB after realising the bird was a rare species.
The small bird with orange-red feathers was identified as a Siberian rubythroat by Chris Hind, Cumbria's county recorder for birds. Hind noted there had been only 17 accepted records of the species in the UK from 1975 to 2022.
Expert Calls for Cat Bells
Josh Jones, senior editor of Bird Guides, said: 'After such a long journey from the vast wilderness of Siberia, it has perished in the most unfortunate of circumstances.' Jones urged cat owners to fit their pets with bells to warn birds, adding: 'Such deaths are perfectly avoidable by taking the right steps.'
Bird Off Course During Migration
Jones told the BBC the bird was underweight and appeared to have flown 'off course' while migrating south. He said: 'At this time of year, Siberian rubythroats should be heading south from their Siberian breeding grounds to spend the winter in South-East Asia, highlighting just how far off course this bird in Cumbria was.'
The bird is set to be displayed in Tullie museum in Carlisle.
