Spring's special guest

Several migratory birds are seen in the UAE duringautumn and spring.

They come from countries north of Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey. The white-throated robin is one of those uncommon migratory birds that visit the UAE during spring. Its generic name, Irania, comes from the country called Iran.

Back in 1863, a scientist named Filippo de Filippi founded the genus. French entomologist Guerin-Meneville coined ‘gutturalis' as the species' name in 1943. The zoological name of the white-throated robin is Irania gutturalis.

It's an illusive bird in the UAE because we usually do not see both the male and female birds together at the same time.

Its range extends from Turkey to Iran.

The male robin is gorgeously coloured while the female looks drab. The male's upper portion is grey-blue, while its chest and upper abdomen are orange. The lower abdomen is white in colour. The bill, legs and tail are black in colour.

The female robin is brown with a white throat, pale abdomen and a dash of orange on the flank. It also has a whitish eye-ring instead of an eyebrow.

The white-throated robin is usually nervous and secretive. It prefers living in bushes and thickets and picks up mostly insects and worms.