# Common Redstart (*Phoenicurus phoenicurus*) The Common Redstart is a small, colorful bird with a bright orange tail. They love to flit around in gardens and forests, singing cheerful songs and catching insects. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Common Redstart](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gartenrotschwanz_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Aconcagua ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gartenrotschwanz_1.jpg) ## Appearance The Common Redstart male has a striking grey back, a black face with a bright white forehead, and a vibrant rusty-orange chest and tail. Females are duller, mostly grey-brown, but also show a rufous-orange tail, which helps distinguish them. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Muscicapidae - **Genus:** Phoenicurus ## Interesting facts - Its name 'redstart' actually means 'red tail' — 'start' is an old English word for tail! - Male Redstarts sing beautiful, warbling songs to attract their mates in spring. - Some Redstarts fly from Europe all the way to central Africa for winter! - They often nest in hollow trees, rock crevices, or even old walls and sheds! ## Special abilities - **Tail Twitcher:** Common Redstart can constantly shiver its bright orange tail because this unique movement often distracts curious predators. - **Insect Hunter:** Common Redstart has sharp eyesight and quick reflexes that help them snatch flying insects mid-air with acrobatic skill. - **Long-distance Traveler:** Common Redstart can migrate thousands of kilometers because its strong wings enable incredible journeys between continents. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 13-14.5 cm - **Wingspan:** 20-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.011-0.019 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-7 - **Incubation:** 11-14 days - **Migration Distance:** 5000 km ## Diet & Feeding These insect-eating birds help control garden pests and also enjoy yummy berries! - **Age differences:** Young birds primarily eat insects for rapid growth, while adults supplement with berries, especially before migration. - **Primary Foods:** beetles, flies, caterpillars, spiders, ants, berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Common Kestrel (*Falco tinnunculus*) — Known predator of small birds. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Often preys on birds in gardens. - **Eats:** Gypsy Moth (*Lymantria dispar*) — Consumes caterpillars of this pest species. - **Depends on:** [Elderberry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elderberry) (*Sambucus nigra*) — Eats berries, especially pre-migration. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance, and don't try to touch or catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Redstart? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Common Redstart? 13-14.5 cm ### What is Common Redstart's wingspan? 20-25 cm ### How much does Common Redstart weigh? 0.011-0.019 kg ### How long does Common Redstart live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Common Redstart move? 35 km/h ### What does Common Redstart eat? These insect-eating birds help control garden pests and also enjoy yummy berries! ### Where is Common Redstart usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Zoo de la Palmyre](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-de-la-palmyre) — Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR · Zoo - [Puebla de San Miguel Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/puebla-de-san-miguel-natural-park) — Rincón de Ademuz, Comunitat Valenciana, ES · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Common Redstart: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-redstart)