Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Redstart

Scientific Name: 
Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Length: 
14cm
Wingspan (mm): 
22cm
Weight: 
59g
Lifespan: 
2yrs

Description

Redstarts are very similar in size to the Robin but have a longer tail that constantly quivers up and down. Their tail and rump are bright orange/red with the central tail feathers being brown. They have a black bill and legs. In summer the male has blue/grey upperparts, a black face and throat with a white forehead and eyebrow with the breast and flanks being orange. Females have grey/brown upperparts and orange/buff underparts a whitish belly and a pale eye-ring. In winter, both sexes are browner and have less black.

Diet

Redstarts feed mainly on insects and their larvae but will also eat fruit and berries in the Autumn.

Behaviour

Redstarts are often seen scanning the ground whilst perched on the bottom branches of a tree or bush and from there, making regular sallies to the ground to find the tasty morsels they have spotted.