Latin name

Phoenicurus ochruros

Family

Chats and thrushes (Turdidae)

Where to see them

Breeding birds occur mainly in urban areas of Greater London, Birmingham and the Black Country with a few pairs in Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Ipswich, and the odd pair at cliff sites and power stations along the south coast between Suffolk and Dorset. There is a good spring passage of black redstarts through the UK and Ireland and they can turn up anywhere, but particularly at the coast. On return passage in autumn, they can be relatively numerous in places like the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall. In winter, a small number are found from Lancashire and Lincolnshire southwards, and along the south coast.

When to see them

Breeding birds and spring passage migrants arrive between March and May. Autumn passage lasts from September to November, peaking in October. Wintering birds are present between late autumn and early spring.

What they eat

Insects, spiders, worms, berries and seeds.

Population

In the UK

Breeds in southern England and Midlands, winter around south, east and west coasts of England and Wales.

In Europe

Western, central and southern Europe.

Worldwide

Europe, Asia and Africa

Black redstart

• Colouring: Male
• Size: robin-sized or smaller
• Feather colours: black, white, red, orange, grey
• Beak colours: black/dark grey
• Beak length: short
• Beak thickness: short
• Leg colour: black/grey, brown
• Behaviour: on ground, wagging or flicking tail, bird hops on the ground, bird walks/runs on the ground, catches insects in flight, eats fruit

Black redstart

• Colouring: Female, Juvenile
• Size: robin-sized or smaller
• Feather colours: brown, black, red, orange, grey, cream/buff
• Beak colours: black/dark grey
• Beak length: short
• Beak thickness: short
• Leg colour: black/grey, brown
• Behaviour: on ground, wagging or flicking tail, bird hops on the ground, bird walks/runs on the ground, catches insects in flight, eats fruit

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  Redstart