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Black RedstartAlternate name(s): "Tithy's Redstart", "Blackstart", "Black Redtail" ![]() Size: 13-14.5 cm; wing span: 23-26 cm Weight: 12-22 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
Race "gibraltariensis"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Near-lateral view of a male Black Redstart; note the prominent
wing bar and the all-grey front, which is characteristic of this
race (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Wizna, on the river Narew, Poland, May 2016]
Lateral view of a male Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Wizna, on the river Narew, Poland, May 2016]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Black Redstart (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Temerin, Serbia, September 2016]
Lateral view of a female Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, May 2016]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Moulting juvenile Black Redstart (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
Near-frontal view of a juvenile Black Redstart; note the yellow
gape (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malinowo, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Black Redstart; note the yellow
gape (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malinowo, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
Race "aterrimus"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Males of this race have the peculiarity that they can come in various shades of grey to black. Some individuals are so black that they look hyper-melanistic (i.e., as if they had an overabundance of black colour pigments in their plumage).
Frontal view of a male Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Queluz, Lisbon, Portugal, January 2017]
Frontal view of an almost pitch-black male Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2014]
Near-frontal view of a male Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2020]
Near-lateral view of a male Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2014]
Lateral view of a male Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2021]
Lateral view of a male Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Casa de Campo, Madrid, Spain, December 2019]
Lateral view of a male Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Lisbon, Portugal, November 2019]
Lateral view of a male Black Redstart on its rocky perch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, April 2018]
Lateral view of an almost pitch-black male Black Redstart
on its rocky perch
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, April 2018]
Lateral view of a male Black Redstart issuing its
call
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2020]
Near-dorsal view of a male Black Redstart; note the
characteristic white wing panels
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vale Vilarica, Tras os Montes, Portugal, May 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a male Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]
View onto the upperparts of an almost pitch-black male
Black Redstart; note the characteristic white wing panels
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female (or first-year male) Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Queluz, Lisbon, Portugal, December 2016]
Near-lateral view of a female (or first-year male) Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2022]
Lateral view of a female (or first-year male) Black Redstart
looking at the observer
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Queluz, Lisbon, Portugal, December 2016]
Lateral view of a female (or first-year male) Black Redstart
looking towards the observer
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2015]
Lateral view of a female (or first-year male) Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Reboleira, Lisbon, Portugal, September 2016]
Lateral view of a female Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Figueira da Foz, near Coimbra, Portugal, February 2019]
Lateral view of a female (or first-year male) Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2015]
Lateral view of a female (or first-year male) Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2018]
Lateral view of a female (or first-year male) Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, January 2020]
Near-dorsal view of a female (or first-year male) Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Reboleira, Lisbon, Portugal, September 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a female (or first-year male) Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Morraceira island, Figueira da Foz, Mondego estuary, Portugal, January 2022]
Dorsal view of a female (or first-year male) Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, January 2020]
Dorsal view onto the upperparts of a female (or first-year male)
Black Redstart in low flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2022]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Lateral view of a first-winter male Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Peniche, Oeste, Portugal, February 2019]
Near-lateral view of a begging juvenile Black Redstart
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2019]
Race "ochruros"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Near-lateral view of a male Black Redstart; note the
gradual transition from black to ochre on the belly
characteristic of the nominate race
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Wizna, on the river Narew, Poland, May 2016]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Near-frontal view of an immature male Black Redstart in
first summer advanced
plumage,
with its prey, a flying insect
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
Race "semirufus"
Black Redstarts, nominate race "semirufus", were photographed in Oman.
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Mar - Aug | Eggs: 4 - 6 | Incubation period: 12 - 13 days | Fledging age: 12 - 17 days |
The length of the breeding season depends on geographic latitude and can start earlier and end later in southern parts of the range, while starting later and ending earlier in the northern parts of the range. Two broods can be raised in most seasons.
Nest building: Female | Incubation: Female | Dependent care: Female & male |
The male selects the nest site, but the female builds the nest. One peculiarity is that the chicks are semi-precocious - they leave the nest a few days before they can fly.
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Nest |
Type: Basket in cavity | Material: Grass, moss, straw, feathers | Height above ground: 2 - ? m |
In recent times (since the 20th century) Black Redstarts build nests in suitable niches in houses, sheds or barns, e.g. under awnings - behaviour which had previously not been observed.
Black Redstart nest with 3 begging chicks; since later 5
chicks were seen, although not visible, there must be 2
more eggs at the bottom of the nest
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, June 2019]
Black Redstart nest with 5 chicks
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, June 2019]
Female Black Redstart at its nest
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, June 2019]
Male Black Redstart bringing food for its brood
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, June 2019]
Male Black Redstart bringing food for its brood
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, June 2019]
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Eggs |
Size: 19 x 14.5 mm | Colour: White | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Food, Diet |
Black Redstarts are primarily insectivores.
Lateral view of a male Black Redstart with its prey, a
caterpillar (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Wizna, on the river Narew, Poland, May 2016]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
brstart_jp_20230221.mp3 |
gibraltariensis (Portugal) |
Territorial calls? | © JP | |
brstart_dw_20180615.m4a |
gibraltariensis (Poland) |
Territorial calls? (male) | © DW | |
brstart_dw_20160612.m4a |
gibraltariensis (Poland) |
Territorial calls? | © DW | |
brstart_dw_20160805.m4a |
gibraltariensis (Poland) |
Territorial calls? | © DW | |
brstart_dw_20190630.m4a |
gibraltariensis (Poland) |
Pair Q&A (Territorial calls?) | © DW | |
brstart_dw_20200711.m4a |
gibraltariensis (Poland) |
Alarm (human) | © DW | |
brstart_dw_20160915.m4a |
gibraltariensis (Poland) |
Various | © DW | |
brstart_jp_20190606.m4a |
gibraltariensis (Portugal) |
Various (+ frogs) | © JP |
More Black Redstart sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.