What is the difference between Black Redstart and Redstart? How do you recognize a female black redstart and a young black redstart? We tell you this and more in our profile.
Few bird species like to be close to humans like the black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros). The former rock dwellers have adapted very well to human habitats and are numerous in towns, villages and home gardens. Early in the year you can hear the characteristic song of the birds echoing from the rooftops and see the little redstarts hopping across lawns. Black redstarts are not endangered and are much more common than the closely related redstarts. You can find out here with us how you can do something good for the pretty songbirds, how you can identify them clearly and distinguish between males and females.
Black Redstart: Wanted Poster
| Size | About 14 - 15 cm |
| Weight | Up to 20g |
| Incubation | May - June |
| Lifetime | About 5 years |
| Habitat | Open and semi-open landscapes, settlements and cities |
| Food Preference | Insects and Spiders |
| Threats | Declining food and habitat |
How to recognize the Black Redstart
As the name suggests, the black redstart can be recognized by its bright rust-red tail. The rest of the plumage is rather dark. The males are - especially in the face and chest area - almost jet black. The only other splash of color are the white fields on the elytra. The animals like to perch on rooftops or other elevated structures, and sometimes even seem to be standing in mid-air - much like a hummingbird.
What does black redstart song sound like?
The black redstart has an unmistakable and unique song. This begins with a short series of high, loud tones, goesthen into a tight crunch and ends in a few trilling final tones: "Ti-ti-ti-ti-krrrsch-schrr-tli-tli-li".
You can listen to the black redstart singing in this recording:
The black redstart also has a few calls that are made when excited or threatened: "Si", "Fid" or "Tek-tek-tek".
How do you recognize a young black redstart?
Young redstarts tend to be inconspicuous. They are uniformly grey-brown in color and therefore resemble the female animals. However, the red tail is already clearly visible. The young birds can be clearly assigned based on this feature.
What do black redstart eggs look like?
The female black redstart lays four to six white eggs, about 2 centimeters in size, per clutch. The nest is cup-shaped and made of densely packed stalks, leaves, moss, and other plant fibers. The eggs are laid in a deep nest cavity lined with feathers and hair.
How do black redstart females and males differ?
Black redstart females and males can be distinguished very well. The females are much lighter than the males and have grey-brown plumage all over. The red tail is their only feature that clearly identifies them as black redstarts, although this sometimes only becomes apparent when they take flight. However, confusion can occur during the breeding season: when the young are already partially fully grown, they look very similar to the female black redstart, regardless of gender.
What is the difference between black and redstarts?
Even though redstarts have become much rarer than black redstarts, both species occur here. As their names suggest, they share a rust-red tail. Apart from that, however, they can be easily distinguished. The redstart males have the rust-red color of the tail extending to the chest, making them appear much lighter than the black redstart. In addition, the redstart's face is adorned with a bright white eye stripe. Females are a bit more difficult to tell apart, but in general Redstart females are lighter in color than their relatives and have a slightly red belly.
Prefer which habitatRedstarts?
The black redstart inhabits a variety of habitats up to high mountain regions. It lives in open and semi-open landscapes, but also in villages and towns. Where rocky structures are absent as nest sites, quarries, buildings, and walls are also adopted. He only avoids densely forested areas.
Where does the black redstart build its nest?
Naturally, the black redstart breeds in rocky landscapes in natural niches or caves. However, the majority of individuals today live close to humans and use niches in walls, holes in facades and a variety of other structures, such as mailboxes, as nest sites. The female alone takes care of the selection of this location and the actual building of the nest. The size of the nest is adapted to the circumstances.
When is the black redstart breeding season?
As well as building the nest, the female also takes on the task of incubating. The breeding season of black redstarts begins in May and usually ends in June. During this time, the breeding pairs create one or two broods. The incubation period is about 14 days. The young birds then hatch and remain in the nest for another two weeks. During this time they are fed by both parents. And even after they have fledged, the young are supported by their parents for up to three weeks before they are on their own.
Where do black redstarts spend the winter?
The black redstarts leave us over the cold winter months. The small songbirds migrate towards the Mediterranean region and winter mainly north of the Sahara. However, they will already be moving home in January, which means that they will be our guests again at the beginning of March.
Note: Due to the mild winters in recent years, black redstarts are increasingly spending the winter in southern Germany and not even migrating south.
Support the black redstart in the garden: This is how it works
Black redstarts are jolly fellows who sing tirelessly and enjoy perching on fences and other freestanding structures. If you want to offer the little songbirds a home, you will find tips for implementing them in your own garden below.
What do redstarts eat?
The black redstart feeds mainly on insects and spiders. Berries and other fruits are rarely used. The hunters often look out from elevated lookoutsand then pounce on their prey from above. However, they also hop through low vegetation in search of small ground-dwelling animals. And sometimes they perform a so-called shaking flight, in which the birds stand in the air and pluck insects from trees, walls or rocks.
Since most black redstarts escape cold winters, they do not benefit from well-intentioned winter feeding. In summer, however, the songbirds are happy about a rich range of insects. Designing an insect-friendly garden can work wonders here. Creating a meadow with native flowers, for example, can generate an entire habitat for a large number of small garden animals. With our Plantura beneficial insect magnet, you can create such an insect paradise quickly and easily. And not only the birds will thank you. This seed mix will also attract beneficial pollinators and pest controllers to your garden.
Which nest boxes are suitable for black redstarts?
If you want, you can offer a nesting box for black redstarts in your garden. Although these are not preferred, they are gratefully accepted if there are no nesting opportunities. The redstarts prefer so-called semi-hollow boxes, which have a large entry opening on the front. And if you have old buildings or walls on your property that have a hole or two, consider carefully whether you need to fill them - if not, the black redstarts will thank you.
Tip: Building a nest box yourself is not that difficult and guarantees fun for the whole family.
How can you support the black redstart?
For the design of an insect- and therefore bird-friendly garden, it is of course always important to keep toxic substances away. Therefore, refrain from using chemical sprays in your garden and pay attention to which agricultural cultivation method you would like to support in your daily shopping. Because pesticides are still one of the main reasons for insect decline.
On hot summer days, the little songbirds are also happy to have a watering hole. It doesn't necessarily have to be a magnificent bird bath - a flat bowl or a trivet will do just fine. Incidentally, these also work as a bird bath, because there is a real difference between a bath and a drinking troughit not. It is only important that the water point is cleaned regularly to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. The bowl should therefore be cleaned every day, especially on a hot day.
If you would like to learn more about the most common garden birds, then browse through our other species portraits and learn about house sparrows or wagtails.