Family: Turdidae, Thrushes view all from this family

Description 4 3/4" (12 cm). Brown above, white below. Male has striking blue throat and breast with rusty red "star" in the middle; black, white, and red bands across breast; white neck stripe and eyebrow. Females and juveniles have light buff throat bordered with dark brown feathers. All plumages have rusty red patch at base of brown tail (similar to that of American Redstart) displayed during nervous tail-flicking.

Habitat Shrubby tundra in the breeding season.

Nesting 4-7 brown-dotted green eggs in a cup nest well hidden on the ground.

Range Breeds in northwestern Alaska. Also in Eurasia. 

Voice   Song loud, varied, and introduced by repeated dip, dip, dip. Sometimes mimics the song of other birds. Alarm call is huyt-tock.

Discussion One of the most recent arrivals among North American birds. As Siberian populations of this handsome songster have increased with the recent warming trend, the species has been able to spread across the Bering Strait into Alaska.