Common Redstart

The Common Redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, is a small passerine bird, a summer visitor that graces the European and western Asian landscapes. It is a member of the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae, and exhibits a delightful orange-red tail that is often quivered, a characteristic that it shares with its close relative, the Black Redstart.

Identification Tips

Adult males are distinguished by their slate-grey heads and upperparts, contrasting with the orange-chestnut rump, tail, and flanks. The male's forehead is white, and the face and throat are marked with a striking black. The wings are grey-brown, and in some subspecies, a pale wing-patch is present. Females are more subdued in color, with grey-brown upperparts and buff-white or light orange underparts.

Habitat

The Common Redstart shows a preference for open mature woodlands, particularly those with birch, oak, or conifers. It thrives in areas with high horizontal visibility and minimal understorey, especially where trees are mature enough to provide nesting holes. The species also adapts to orchards, parks, and old gardens within urban settings.

Distribution

This species is found across Europe, reaching into Siberia, and in northwest Africa in Morocco. It winters in central Africa and Arabia. In Great Britain, it is widespread, favoring upland broadleaf woodlands and hedgerow trees, while in Ireland, it is a rare breeder, predominantly in County Wicklow.

Behaviour

The Common Redstart arrives in its breeding grounds in early to mid-April, with males often preceding females. It lays five or six light blue eggs in May and may have a second brood in the south of its range. The species departs for its wintering grounds between mid-August and early October. It often feeds like a flycatcher, making aerial sallies after insects.

Song & Calls

The male's song is a soft, melancholic series of strophes, while the main contact call is a rising "huid" or a monosyllabic "heed," depending on the region. Alarm calls are typically a ticking sound.

Breeding

Breeding occurs in cavities such as natural tree holes or nestboxes. The species is known for its light blue eggs and may produce two broods per season in warmer areas.

Similar Species

The Black Redstart shares the red tail characteristic but can be differentiated by its overall darker plumage and different habitat preferences.

Diet and Feeding

The diet primarily consists of winged insects, which the Common Redstart catches in flight, employing its flycatcher-like hunting technique.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists the Common Redstart as Least Concern, although certain populations have experienced declines due to habitat loss and changes in agricultural practices. Conservation efforts in some regions include grants for woodland improvement to support the species' habitat requirements.