Opinion on fledgling ID please.

[earthdragon64]

I was out at Insh Marshes RSPB reserve yesterday and saw this young fledgling in an area of mixed Birch and Aspen woodland. I'd like a 2nd opinion as to what it is please. The 2nd photo shows the tail in a bit more detail which may help.






Regards, Audrey.

[beech]

Looks like a young robin, but having never seen a recently fledged redstart i am not sure

[aeshna5]

It does look Robin like, but the tail I think does make it a Redstart fledgling. Remember they are fairly closely related- both are chats.

[valleyforge]

I'm pretty sure that it's a robin too ... but then again, I've never hand-reared a redstart.

[earthdragon64]

My initial impression was Robin, until I got a look at the tail. Given the apparent age of the fledgling I would expect to have seen it being fed by an adult, which I didn't.

There was no sign of an adult Robin about, however, a gorgeous male Redstart arrived and started making a bit of a din and flying around. At this point we carried on walking, as we didn't want to stress out the adult. I turned and looked back a couple of times, but couldn't see whether the Redstart fed the fledgling or not.

We also saw a couple of Lesser Redpoll fledglings getting fed by an adult, but they were right at the top of a tree so didn't get decent photos.

regards, Audrey.

[david156]

Fledgling Redstart. The colour is already starting to show in the tail.

[valleyforge]

Interesting .... I've just checked one of my old reference books (Nesting Birds : Eggs & Fledglings in Colour by Winwood Reade & Eric Hoskins, 1967) and it does state that a fledgling redstart is much like that of the robin, but with a 'chestnut-red tail'.

Good observation, Audrey.

[Muggsy]

if I hadn't seen Redstarts fledge on Springwatch last week, I would have said Robin, but having seen that, for me, its a Redstart.

[2dogs2000]

Oh no! Something else to confuse me but then I am easily confused
Chances of me seeing a redstart are very poor so all my baby robins will be robins.

[Dogghound]

Yes this is a common Redstart around 13 days old. The red tail is already fairly diagnostic even in a fledgling, robins tend to have a reduced tail which is gold/brown when they fledge. Robins also show the gold spotting along the greater coverts which can be quite diagnostic too. Additionally black redstart chicks (which are unlikely to be found in woodland) show the sooty grey/black colour shown in adults when they fledge, the yellow gape is also much more obvious on this species due to its darker colouration.

Nice find, they seem to be doing well this year our local woods are full of them.