Common Redstart
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(New page: Image:CommonRedstart.JPG '''Common Name:''' Common Redstart<br> '''Scientific Name:''' Phoenicurus phoenicurus '''Size:''' 5.1-5.7 inches (13-14.5 cm); Wingspan: 7.9-10.6 inches (20-...) |
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'''Diet:''' Insects and berries. It often feeds like a flycatcher, making aerial sallies after passing insects, and most of its food consists of winged insects. | '''Diet:''' Insects and berries. It often feeds like a flycatcher, making aerial sallies after passing insects, and most of its food consists of winged insects. | ||
| - | '''Nesting:''' The male in summer has a slate-grey head and upper parts, except the rump and tail, which, like the flanks, under wing coverts and axillaries are orange-chestnut. The forehead is white; the sides of the face and throat are black. The wings and the two central tail feathers are brown, the other tail feathers bright orange-red. The orange on the flanks shades to almost white on the belly. The bill and legs are black. In autumn, pale feather fringes on the body feathering obscures the colors of the male, giving it a washed-out appearance. Males found in Turkey and Caucasus have white Coverts (Ehrenberg's Redstart; P.p. samamicus). The female is browner, with paler under parts; it lacks the black and slate, and the throat is whitish. | + | '''Nesting:''' The male in summer has a slate-grey head and upper parts, except the rump and tail, which, like the flanks, under wing coverts and axillaries are orange-chestnut. The forehead is white; the sides of the face and throat are black. The wings and the two central tail feathers are brown, the other tail feathers bright orange-red. The orange on the flanks shades to almost white on the belly. The bill and legs are black. In autumn, pale feather fringes on the body feathering obscures the colors of the male, giving it a washed-out appearance. Males found in Turkey and Caucasus have white Coverts (Ehrenberg's Redstart; ''P.p. samamicus''). The female is browner, with paler under parts; it lacks the black and slate, and the throat is whitish. |
The males first arrive in early to mid-April, often a few days in advance of the females. They nest in natural tree holes, so dead trees or those with dead limbs are beneficial to the species; nest boxes are sometimes used. A high cover of moss and lichen is also preferred. | The males first arrive in early to mid-April, often a few days in advance of the females. They nest in natural tree holes, so dead trees or those with dead limbs are beneficial to the species; nest boxes are sometimes used. A high cover of moss and lichen is also preferred. | ||
'''Cool Facts:''' The closest genetic relative of the Common Redstart may be the Moussier's Redstart, though incomplete sampling of the genus gives some uncertainty to this. Its ancestors were apparently the first redstarts to spread to Europe; they seem to have diverged from the Black Redstart group about 3 million years ago, during the Piacenzian. Genetically, Common and Black Redstarts are still fairly compatible and can produce hybrids that appear to be healthy and fertile, but they are separated by different behavior and ecological requirements so hybrids are very rare in nature. | '''Cool Facts:''' The closest genetic relative of the Common Redstart may be the Moussier's Redstart, though incomplete sampling of the genus gives some uncertainty to this. Its ancestors were apparently the first redstarts to spread to Europe; they seem to have diverged from the Black Redstart group about 3 million years ago, during the Piacenzian. Genetically, Common and Black Redstarts are still fairly compatible and can produce hybrids that appear to be healthy and fertile, but they are separated by different behavior and ecological requirements so hybrids are very rare in nature. | ||
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'''Found in Songbird ReMix Woodland Jewels''' | '''Found in Songbird ReMix Woodland Jewels''' | ||
