Black redstart: female, young bird, nest & Co.

How do black redstart and redstart differ? How do you identify a female black redstart and a young black redstart? We tell you this and more in our profile.

Only a few bird species enjoy coming close to people as much as the black redstart (Phenicurus ochruros). The former rock dwellers have adapted very well to human habitats and are found in large numbers in cities, villages and domestic gardens. Early in the year you can hear the birds' characteristic song echoing from the roofs and see the little redstarts hopping over lawns. Black redstarts are not endangered in their population and are much more common than their closely related species Redstarts. Here you can find out from us how you can do something good for the pretty songbirds, how you can clearly identify them and distinguish between males and females.

Black redstart: profile

Size	Approximately 14 - 15 cm
Weight	Up to 20g
breeding season	May June
lifespan	About 5 years
habitat	Open and semi-open landscapes, settlements and cities
Food preference	insects and spiders
Threats	Decline in food and habitat

This is how you recognize the black redstart

The black redstart can be recognized, as the name suggests, by its bright rusty red tail. The rest of the plumage is rather dark. The males are almost deep black - especially in the face and chest area. The only other splash of color are the white fields on the elytra. The animals like to sit on roofs or other elevated structures and sometimes even appear to be standing in the air - similar to a hummingbird.

What does black redstart song sound like?

The black redstart has a distinctive and unique song. This begins with a short series of high, loud tones, then turns into a pressed crunch and ends with a few trilling final tones: “Ti-ti-ti-ti-crrrsh-schrr-tli-tli-li”.

You can listen to the song of the black redstart in this recording:

The black redstart also has a few calls that are made when excited or in danger: “Si”, “Fid” or “Tek-tek-tek”.

How do you recognize a young black redstart bird?

Young black redstarts are rather inconspicuous. They are uniformly gray-brown in color and therefore resemble female animals. However, the red tail is already clearly visible. The young birds can be clearly identified based on this characteristic.

What do black redstart eggs look like?

The female black redstart lays four to six white eggs, approximately 2 centimeters in size, per clutch. The nest is cup-shaped and consists of tightly packed stalks, leaves, moss and other plant fibers. The eggs are laid in a deep nest cavity that is padded with feathers and hair.

How do female and male black redstarts differ?

Black redstart females and males can be easily distinguished. The females are much brighter than the males and have grey-brown plumage all over. The red tail is their only characteristic that allows them to be clearly identified as black redstarts, although this sometimes only becomes visible when they fly up. However, confusion can occur during the breeding season: If the young animals are already partially grown, they look very similar to female black redstarts, regardless of gender.

How do black redstart and redstart differ?

Even though redstarts have become much rarer than black redstarts, both species occur here. As the names suggest, they share a rusty red tail. Apart from that, however, they can be easily distinguished. In male redstarts, the rusty red color of the tail extends to the chest, making them appear much brighter than black redstarts. The face of the redstart is also adorned with a bright white stripe over the eyes. It is a little more difficult to distinguish between females, but female redstarts are generally lighter than their relatives and have a slightly reddish color on their belly.

What habitat do black redstarts prefer?

The black redstart inhabits a variety of habitats, even in high mountain regions. It lives in open and semi-open landscapes, but also in villages and cities. Where there are no rocky structures as nesting sites, quarries, buildings and walls are also accepted. He only avoids densely forested areas.

Where does the black redstart build its nest?

The black redstart naturally breeds in rocky landscapes in natural niches or caves. However, the majority of individuals today live close to people and use wall niches, holes in facades and a variety of other structures, such as mailboxes, as nesting locations. The female alone takes care of the selection of this location and the actual construction of the nest. The size of the nest is adjusted to the circumstances.

When is the black redstart breeding season?

Just like building the nest, the female also takes on the task of brooding. The breeding season of black redstarts begins in May and usually ends in June. During this time the breeding pairs create one or two broods. The breeding period is around 14 days. The young birds then hatch and remain in the nest for another two weeks. During this time they are fed by both parents. And even after they have fledged, the young are supported by their parents for up to three weeks before they are on their own.

Where do black redstarts spend the winter?

The black redstarts leave us over the cold winter months. The small songbirds migrate towards the Mediterranean region and spend the winter mainly north of the Sahara. However, they will start their journey home in January, which means they will be our guests again at the beginning of March.

A notice: Due to the mild winters in recent years, black redstarts are increasingly overwintering in southern Germany and not migrating south at all.

Supporting the black redstart in the garden: Here's how it works

Black redstarts are funny creatures that sing tirelessly and like to sit on fences and other free-standing elevations. If you want to offer the little songbirds a home, you will find tips below for implementing it in your own garden.

What do black redstarts eat?

The black redstart feeds mainly on insects and spiders. Berries and other fruits are rarely used. The hunters often look out from elevated places and then pounce on their prey from above. However, they also hop through low vegetation in search of small ground-dwelling animals. And sometimes they perform a so-called shaking flight, in which the birds stand in the air and pick insects from trees, walls or rocks.

Since most black redstarts escape the cold winters, they do not benefit from well-intentioned winter feeding. In summer, however, the songbirds are happy about a rich selection of insects. The design of one insect-friendly garden can work real miracles here. For example, creating a meadow with native flowers can create an entire habitat for a variety of small garden animals. With our Plantura beneficial insect magnet you can create such an insect paradise quickly and easily. And it's not just the birds that will thank you. With this seed mix you can also attract beneficial pollinators and pest controllers to your garden.

Which nesting boxes are suitable for black redstarts?

If you want, you can offer a nesting box for black redstarts in your garden. These are not preferred, but are gratefully accepted if there are no nesting opportunities. The redstarts prefer so-called half-cave boxes, which have a large entry opening at the front. And if you have old buildings or walls on your property that have one or two holes in them, Think carefully about whether you need to fill it - if not, the black redstarts will to thank.

Tip: A Build your own nesting box It's not that difficult and is guaranteed to be fun for the whole family.

How can you provide additional support for the black redstart?

When designing an insect- and therefore bird-friendly garden, it is of course always important to keep toxic substances away. Therefore, avoid using chemical sprays in your garden and be careful When you do your daily shopping, consider which agricultural farming method you want to support. Pesticides are still one of the main reasons for the decline in insects.

On hot summer days, the little songbirds also enjoy a watering hole. This doesn't necessarily have to be a fancy birdbath - a shallow bowl or a trivet is sufficient. By the way, these also work as birdbaths, because there is no real difference between a bath and a waterer. It is only important that the water point is cleaned regularly to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The bowl should therefore be cleaned daily, especially on hot days.

If you would like to find out more about the most common garden birds, then browse through our other species portraits and learn something about them House sparrows or Wagtails.