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Common Redstart
(Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
Size: 13-14.5 cm; wing span: 20.5-24 cm
Weight: 11-23 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Common Redstarts are robin-sized birds.
Their plumage is
dimorphic, i.e.
males and
females
are different.
Male
Common Redstarts have a mostly black face (frons, lores, ear
coverts, chin), under a white bar across the forehead that
extends above both eyes as supercilia. The cap and the nape
of the neck, the mantle and the upperwing coverts are grey.
The front, the rump and and the outer upperwing feathers are
rich rusty-red, while the inner uppertail feathers are grey
to grey-brown.
Female
Common Redstarts are much less conspicuous than males. They are almost
entirely grey-brown, with a buff tint on the chest and a lighter
grey chin. Also the belly, vent and undertail coverts are light-grey
to light grey-brown. Only the rump and the outer uppertail feathers
are rufous. They have inconspicuous light-grey eye-rings.
The irises of both sexes are black. The slender, straight bill
is dark-grey; the legs and feet are also dark-grey.
First-winter, immature males largely resemble
females,
but with a vermiculated front.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Common
Redstart at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the
ebird.org
website.
The global distribution of the Common Redstart is available
HERE
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Common Redstarts are a migratory species.
Apart from some patches in north-western Africa and Iberia,
they breed mainly in western, central and eastern Europe
(including the western part of England and all of Scotland
- but not Ireland, all of Scandinavia, northern Italy, the
major mountain ranges and the Balkans) and on into western
and central Asia. They are also found breeding on the Crimea
peninsula, in and around the Caucasus mountains and in parts
of Asia Minor and via the Euphrates/Tigris river basin into
parts of the Middle East.
The two extant races, "phoenicurus"
(mostly Europe and northern/central Asia) and
"samamisicus" (mostly Middle East and southern/central Asia)
intergrade in the region from the Balkans to Asia Minor.
During their migration they can be found in all of the
rest of Europe, much of the Middle East and northern
Africa.
They winter in sub-Saharan Africa North of the equator and
in Arabia.
In passage Common Redstarts can be found in many parts
of Arabia, in particular where there are trees and/or
shrubs (hence mostly the near-coastal fringes).
Common Restarts are usually found in wooded areas, such
as scrub, woodland and forest, but also in gardens and
parks.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "phoenicurus"
Common Redstarts, nominate race "phoenicurus",
were found in Poland.
Race "samamisicus"
We have not spotted Common Redstarts, race "samamisicus", in Oman yet.
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Photos |
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No photos of race "samamisicus" from Oman are available yet.
Photos of race "phoenicurus"
can be found on the page for Europe.
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Food, Diet |
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Common Redstarts are insectivores.
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Call(s)/Song |
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For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
are welcome.