Black Redstart

Phoenicurus ochruros

Least Concern
The Black Redstart, a city-dwelling songbird, adds a touch of wilderness to urban landscapes across the UK.
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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Black Redstart is a small, sleek bird with a distinctive appearance. Adult males sport a striking black plumage on their head, throat, and upper parts, contrasted by a bright rusty-red tail and lower belly. Their wings feature a prominent white patch, visible in flight.

Females and juveniles have duller plumages, with grey-brown upperparts and a paler underside. Both sexes retain the characteristic red tail, though it's less vibrant in females.

Size

Length

13cm to 14.5cm

Wingspan

23cm to 26cm

Weight

12g to 20g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Black Grey

Secondary Colour

Red White Orange

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Primary Colour (Female)

Grey Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

Red Orange

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Black Redstart is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Black Redstart is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Black Redstart is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Black Redstart can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Black Redstart can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Black Redstart is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Black Redstart is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Black Redstart is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Black Redstart is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Black Redstart is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Black Redstart can be found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Black Redstart is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Black Redstarts thrive in rocky habitats, both natural and man-made. They are commonly found in urban areas, nesting on buildings, industrial sites, and ruins. Their natural habitats include mountain cliffs, rocky coasts, and open woodland edges.

The species breeds across Europe and Asia, with populations extending from the UK to China. In winter, many European birds migrate to the Mediterranean region and North Africa.

In the UK, they are year-round residents, albeit rare, in some urban areas, with numbers boosted by winter visitors. Passage sightings are regularly reported in spring and autumn across eastern England.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 3,700 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Black Redstart. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
  • Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
  • This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

  • More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
  • How birds move around during different seasons
© 2024 - Birdfact
Resident
Breeding
Non-breeding
Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year
Algeria Austria Belgium Bhutan Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Egypt Ethiopia France Germany Greece Hungary Iran Iraq Israel Italy Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Libya Luxembourg Macedonia Mauritania Morocco Myanmar Netherlands Oman Pakistan Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Slovakia Slovenia Somalia Spain Switzerland Syria The United Kingdom Tunisia Turkey Ukraine United Arab Emirates
Species that are present in the area during their breeding season
Afghanistan Albania Andorra Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina China Estonia Finland Georgia India Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Nepal Norway Russia Serbia Sweden Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan
Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season
Bahrain Cyprus Gibraltar Ireland Malta Palestine Saudi Arabia Sudan Yemen
Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range
Chad Eritrea Faroe Islands Hong Kong Iceland Japan Mali Niger North Korea Senegal South Korea Taiwan Vietnam

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:
  • Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
  • Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
  • Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
  • Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
  • Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

  • 0-20: Very Low
  • 21-40: Low
  • 41-60: Average
  • 61-80: High
  • 81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Black Redstart displays remarkable agility, adept at vertical takeoffs and landings in urban environments. Its ability to navigate complex cityscapes and perform mid-air insect catches demonstrates high manoeuvrability.

Strength 30

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As a small bird weighing between 12-20 grams, the Black Redstart has limited physical strength. However, it possesses sufficient power for its size to defend territories and undertake partial migrations.

Adaptability 95

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Exceptionally adaptable, the Black Redstart thrives in diverse habitats from sea level to 3,700 metres, including urban areas and natural rocky terrains. Its ability to colonise post-war bomb sites and adjust its diet to urban environments showcases remarkable adaptability.

Aggressiveness 70

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

While generally not overly aggressive, Black Redstarts fiercely defend their territories, particularly during breeding season. Males engage in aggressive displays and persistent singing to ward off rivals, indicating a moderate to high level of aggression.

Endurance 75

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Black Redstart demonstrates good endurance, evidenced by its partial migratory behaviour and ability to survive in varied climates. Its capacity to raise multiple broods per season and forage actively throughout the day also suggests solid stamina for its size.

Diet

Black Redstarts are primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small invertebrates. They skilfully catch flying insects mid-air and glean prey from walls and ground.

Insects, including grasshoppers, flies, earwigs, cockroaches, beetles, butterflies and moths, and ants, bees, and wasps are among their most common prey, as well as spiders, worms, millipedes, woodlice, and caterpillars.

In urban environments, they've adapted to forage among buildings and construction sites, sometimes supplementing their diet with small berries and seeds.

Behaviour

Black Redstarts are known for their distinctive tail-wagging behaviour, often accompanied by a bobbing motion. They are adept at vertical takeoffs and landings, frequently perching on high points in urban environments.

These birds are generally solitary outside the breeding season, fiercely defending their territories with melodious songs and aggressive displays.

Vocalisation

The Black Redstart's song is a distinctive, scratchy warble, often described as a 'crackling' sound followed by a squeaky ending. It's frequently likened to the sound of crumpling paper, with a characteristic 'tik-tik-tik' alarm call.

Males sing persistently from high perches, especially during early mornings.

Nesting & Breeding

Black Redstarts typically form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, from April to August. Males perform elaborate courtship displays, singing from prominent perches to attract females.

Nests are built in crevices or holes in buildings, cliffs, or walls. The cup-shaped nest is constructed of grass, moss, and roots, lined with feathers and hair. Females lay 4-6 white eggs with a bluish tinge.

Incubation lasts about 13-14 days, primarily by the female. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after 12-15 days. Pairs often raise two broods per season, sometimes three in favourable conditions.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [1]

While the Black Redstart is listed as Least Concern globally, it faces localised threats from urban development and climate change.

In the UK, it's a protected species due to its small breeding population. Conservation efforts focus on creating suitable urban habitats and preserving traditional nesting sites.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

32,800,000 - 57,100,000 mature individuals [2]

Global Population Trend

[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

  • Look for Black Redstarts on rooftops, chimneys, and other high urban structures
  • Listen for their distinctive song, especially at dawn and dusk
  • Observe their characteristic tail-wagging behaviour for easy identification
  • In the UK, coastal areas and industrial sites are good spots for sightings, particularly during winter

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Blackstart

Family:

Muscicapidae

Average Lifespan

5 years

Max Lifespan

10.2 years [4]

Predators

Main predators include domestic cats, sparrowhawks, and other birds of prey. In urban environments, they face additional threats from rats and corvids.

Did You Know?

  1. Black Redstarts were one of the first birds to recolonise bomb sites in London after World War II.
  2. They can produce up to 15 different types of songs and calls.
  3. In some European countries, they're considered a symbol of urban wildlife adaptation.

FAQs

What is the difference between Common Redstart and Black Redstart?

As you might expect from their name, common redstarts are a lot less rare than black redstarts and are widespread throughout the UK. Similar in size and shape, colouring is the key way to tell the difference between the species.

Male black redstarts’ plumage is dominated by black, with a black breast, an orange-red belly, and grey-black upperparts. Common redstarts have lighter grey-brown upperparts, a white forehead, and an orange-red breast and belly. Females are more similar, although female black redstarts are generally darker, and female common redstarts have faint reddish colouring visible on the breast.

What do you feed Black Redstart?

Black redstarts do not normally visit gardens and survive by foraging for insects and invertebrates and wild berries and seeds. Areas of wild vegetation where they have access to a diverse range of insect and plant species

Do Black Redstarts wag their tails?

Tail flicking is a common trait of black redstarts, and it’s observed to increase in frequency when they sense a predator nearby. Tail flicking is also part of the male black redstart’s courtship display, drawing attention to the bright rusty-orange tail feathers.

References

  1. 1 2

    website: BirdLife International. 2019. Phoenicurus ochruros (amended version of 2018 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22710051A155610899.

    View source
  2. 3

    report, 2015: EBCC

  3. 4

    website, 2010: Fransson et al., EURING list of longevity records for European birds

    View source

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