Survival estimation is fundamental to understanding population dynamics and has great value from a conservation standpoint. We calculated the apparent survival rate and its variation between age classes and years for a bluethroat Luscinia svecica azuricollis breeding population in Spain. Cormack-Jolly-Seber models were used on capture-recapture data obtained during the breeding season from 1998 to 2005. Bluethroats first captured as adults exhibited higher apparent annual survival (0.52) than those first captured as first-year birds (0.31). We discuss these results within a larger geographic context and compare them with other similar species.