Common Redstart

Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Locally fairly common Summer Visitor from Apr-Oct of 100,000 breeding pairs across Britain, in woodlands of Wales, Scotland, England, Ireland & declining.

Also breeds in mainland Europe & North West Africa from April-September.

 Winters in West Africa to the South of the Sahara.

The Male in summer has a slate-grey head and upperparts.

The forehead is white; the sides of the face and throat are black.

The two central tail feathers are dark brown, the other tail feathers bright orange-red.

The Female is grey-brown above and buff-white or light orange below.

Juveniles are similar to Females.

The song is a soft melancholy strophes lasting 1–2 seconds that can be divided into three parts.