Wildlifeof China
Common Redstart
Thrushes, Chats & Flycatchers
Photo: (c) Donald Davesne, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Basic stats
Habitat
Open mature birch, oak or conifer woodland with high horizontal visibility and few shrubs, with old trees with nest holes
Size
13–14.5cm
Weight
11–23g
The common redstart is a small passerine 13–14.5cm long and 11–23g. The orange-red tail, from which redstarts get their name ('start' is an old word for 'tail'), is frequently quivered. It has some affinity to the European robin in habits, with a white forehead and distinct face and throat markings (Wikipedia, general species account).
It prefers open mature birch, oak or, particularly in the north of its breeding range, conifer woodland with a high horizontal visibility and little shrub and understorey, where trees are old enough to have holes suitable for nesting. The source does not describe its status in China (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Common Redstart live in?
- Open mature birch, oak or conifer woodland with high horizontal visibility and few shrubs, with old trees with nest holes
- How big is the Common Redstart?
- 13–14.5cm
- How much does the Common Redstart weigh?
- 11–23g