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Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros   [SG Gmelin, 1774]
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Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
BTO Codes: BX, BLARE EURING No: 11210
Number in Britain: Fewer than 20 records
Conservation Status:
UK: AMBER
European: Not a species of concern
Global: Least Concern ( Details )
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Status in UK: (A)  Migrant/Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies: gibraltariensis (RBW) recorded in Britain (of 6 subsp. in the world)
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Length: 14 cm Wingspan: 24 cm Weight: M/F: 16 g    
Scientific name from: Gr.: phoinix=crimson + oura=tail and Gr.: okhros=pale yellow + oura=tai
World Distribution: BREEDS: Europe (except n) to c Asia, nw Africa, WINTERS: south to n Africa & s Asia
Habitat: Near cliffs & buildings
Diet: Small invertebrates and fruit
TitBit: Originally a montane species, the species has spread widely through Europe after it learned the habit of nesting on buildings - in Britain it first nested on the original Wembley Empire Exhibition building, it is now widespread, nesting on Coventry Cathedral and the Natural History Museum as well as gasworks and industrial depots.  

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: No population trend available
Distribution: Atlas Maps    (Local Atlases)   
British Population Size:
    Summer: 43 pairs in 2005-09
    Passage: 4 individuals
    First Record: 1743 [Fossil evidence from Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
    First Breeding Record: Sussex 1923
    Latest Survey: Holling, M. & RBBP (2011) British Birds 104:476-537
    Conservation Status: AMBER because Recent Breeding Population Decline, Small Breeding Population,
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 AMBER     1996-2001 AMBER  
   Races of Concern: gibraltariensis AMBER (Recent Decline)
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
    Summer: 4 to 8.6 million pairs   (Trend in Numbers)
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WCA(I,IV), Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results: BirdTrack

Breeding and Survival
Egg Size: 19 x 14 mm Egg Weight: 2.2 g (of which 5 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 4
Clutch Size: 4 - 6 eggs
Incubation: 12- 16 days   by the: Female
Fledging: 12 - 19days as: Altricial, downy
First Clutches Laid: Unavailable
Number of Broods: 2(3)
Number Ringed: 109 (Annual Totals)
Adult Survival: No data
Juvenile Survival: No data
Age at First Breeding: 1 year Typical Lifespan: No data
Maximum Recorded Age: 4 years 11 months 18 days (set in 1952)
Summary of Ringing Recoveries       

Biometrics
Ring Size: A
Wing Length Adult: 84.9 ± 2.9 Range 81 - 89 mm, N =302
Juvenile: 84.7 ± 2.5 81 - 89 mm, N =572
Male: 86.9 ± 3.0 83 - 90.75 mm, N =100
Female: 83.9 ± 2.4 80 - 88 mm, N =145
Weight Adult: 16.17 ± 1.44 Range 14.20 - 18.50 g , N =295
Juvenile: 15.53 ± 1.38 13.40 - 17.80 g , N =565
Male: 16.84 ± 1.42 15.00 - 19.50 g , N =95
Female: 15.73 ± 1.34 13.90 - 18.10 g , N =144
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data

Other Names
 
Gaelic: Earr-deargan-dubh Welsh: Tingoch Du
Danish: Husrřdstjert Dutch: Zwarte roodstaart
Finnish: Mustaleppälintu French: Roguequeue noir
German: Hausrotschwanz Hungarian: Házi rozsdafarkú
Icelandic: Húsaskotta Irish: Earrdheargán Dubh
Italian: Codirosso spazzacamino Norwegian: Svartrřdstjert
Polish: Kopciuszek zwyczajny Portuguese: Rabirruivo-preto
Spanish: Colirrojo tizón Swedish: Svart rödstjärt

For More Information...
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Wikipedia entry
BirdLife species page
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead