Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus   [Linnaeus, 1758]

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   Page updated:16-January-2013

Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
BTO Codes: RT, REDST EURING No: 11220
Number in Britain: 101 thousand pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: AMBER
European: 2 Concern, most in Europe; Declining
Global: (Details)
Links to: Images   Videos   Sound  
Status in UK: (A)  Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies: phoenicurus (BW) recorded in Britain (of 2 subsp. in the world)
.
Length: 14 cm Wingspan: 22 cm Weight: M/F: 15 g    
Scientific name from: Gr.: phoinix=crimson + oura=tail
World Distribution: BREEDS: Europe, n&c Asia, WINTERS: n Africa & Arabia
Habitat: Woodland
Diet: Largely insects, esp. butterfly/beetle larvae, and spiders

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: BirdTrends   
Regional Trends: Wales   England   English Regions
Distribution: Atlas Maps   
British Population Size:
    Summer: 101 thousand pairs in 2000     Note: Best estimate
    First Record: Recorded in Anglo-Saxon times [Fossil evidence from Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
    Conservation Status: AMBER because Species of European Concern,
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 AMBER     1996-2001 AMBER  
   Races of Concern: phoenicurus AMBER (European Concern)
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    Common in: Pasture Farmland, Grass/Heath, Moorland, Deciduous Wood
    Also found in: Coniferous Wood
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
Migration routes: Map of foreign ringing recoveries  and summary map from Time to Fly (in pop-up windows)
Average Day of First Arrival: 5 Apr
European Population Size:
    Summer: 1.8 to 4 million pairs   (Trend in Numbers)
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe mapped by the EBCC Atlas
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: Bern(III),Bonn(II)
Survey Results: Results from BirdTrack

Breeding and Survival

Egg Size: 19 x 14 mm Egg Weight: 1.9 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 162
Clutch Size: 6 - 7 eggs 6.27 ± 0.95 (2 - 10) N = 1759
Incubation: 13- 14 days 13.61 ± 1.40 (11 - 16.5) N = 1759   by the: Female
Fledging: 16 - 17days 15.90 ± 1.58 (12.5 - 17.5) N = 2978 as: Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid: 13 May (2 May - 7 Jun)
Number of Broods: (1)2
See trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed: Annual Totals
Adult Survival: 0.380       
Juvenile Survival: No data
Age at First Breeding: 1 year Typical Lifespan: 2 years
Maximum Recorded Age: 8 years 0 months 8 days (set in 2007)
Read a summary of Ringing Recoveries

Biometrics

Ring Size: A
Wing Length Adult: 77.5 ± 2.7     Range 66.0 - 87.0 mm, (N = 890)
Juvenile: 78.5 ± 2.5     Range 66.0 - 91.0 mm, (N = 4418)
Male: 78.5 ± 2.5     Range 69.0 - 87.0 mm, (N = 480)
Female: 76.3 ± 2.2     Range 66.0 - 87.0 mm, (N = 405)
Weight Adult: 14.10 ± 1.29 Range 8.90 - 18.90 g , (N =797)
Juvenile: 14.1 ± 1.3 Range 8.9 - 19.3 . , (N =3999)
Male: 14.16 ± 1.26 Range 10.00 - 18.50 g , (N =441)
Female: 14.03 ± 1.32 Range 8.90 - 18.90 g , (N =352)
Seasonal: Summer 14.13 ± 1.22 (N = 1176)   Autumn 14.25 ± 1.37 (N = 386)  
Source: British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data

Other Names

Common Redstart
Gaelic: Earr-dearg Welsh: Tingoch
Danish: Rųdstjert Dutch: Gekraagde roodstaart
Finnish: Leppälintu French: Rougequeue ą front blanc
German: Gartenrotschwanz Hungarian: Kerti rozsdafarkś
Icelandic: Garšaskotta Irish: Earrdheargįn
Italian: Codirosso Norwegian: Rųdstjert
Polish: Pleszka zwyczajna Portuguese: Rabirruivo-de-testa-branca
Spanish: Colirrojo real Swedish: Rödstjärt

For More Information...

Books and Monographs:
   Buxton, J. 1950 The redstart Collins, London [598.911 BUX]
See Also:
Find scientific papers on Google Scholar or Scirus by clicking the icon
Wikipedia entry
BirdLife species page
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides
Read State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead