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Birds by name

Redstart

Conservation status: Amber

Redstarts are immediately identifiable by their bright orange-red tails, which they often quiver. Breeding males look smart, with slate grey upper parts, black faces and wings, and an orange rump and chest. Females and young are duller. Redstarts 'bob' in a very robin-like manner, but spend little time at ground level. It is included on the Amber List as species with unfavourable conservation status in Europe where it is declining.

Overview

Latin name

Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Family

Chats and thrushes (Turdidae)

Where to see them

Mainly found in the north and west of the UK, with the greatest concentrations in Wales. Particularly likes oak woodlands, also hedgerows, alongside streams and parkland. On passage in is best looked for in coastal scrub, thickets and woodland.

When to see them

April to September

What they eat

Mainly insects; also spiders, worms and berries.

Population

EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*
-101,000 pairs--

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Key

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Illustrations

Audio

Patrik Aberg, Xeno-canto

Characteristics

Redstart

Redstart - male
  • Colouring: Male
  • Size: robin-sized or smaller
  • Feather colours: brown, black, white, blue, 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, catches insects in flight, eats fruit

Redstart

Redstart - female
  • Colouring: Female
  • Size: robin-sized or smaller
  • Feather colours: brown, 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, catches insects in flight, eats fruit

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