The Redstart is slimmer than a Robin with a flicking red tail, hence its name ('start' is an old word for 'tail'). It is a summer migrant from central Africa and is often found in the towns or uplands of the north and west. The best place to look for Redstarts is feeding among the branches of woodland or heathland, as they rarely spend time on the ground.
Redstarts have a bright red rump, a red tail with a black centre, reddish underparts, a blue-grey back, a black face and a white forehead. The female is paler and browner but also has a red tail. The youngsters are mottled brown, similar to a young Robin. They sing from a prominent perch, starting with confidence but losing their way, like a Chaffinch that has run out of steam. It is a sweet "hooveet" song with a mechanical jingle at the end.
They catch insects like flies, beetles, ants and spiders by flying from a perch or hovering. They will also eat worms and fruit (pudding after all that protein). When perched, they have an upright stance like a Robin, while tail flicking and body bobbing.
Redstarts arrive in April and mum soon gets around to building a nest from grass or moss in a tree hole or nest box. She lays 5-7 light blue eggs, which hatch after 12 days. Both parents feed the youngsters, who can fly after 2 weeks and are fully independent 2 weeks later. Mum and dad will often have two broods. The whole family heads back to Africa in late August or early September.
Sadly, Redstart numbers declined in the 1970s, mainly from droughts in Africa, and they are Amber Listed. Numbers are slowly recovering and there are now about 100,000. Woodland nest box schemes, particularly in Wales, are helping their breeding success and recovery. The oldest ringed bird lived for 9 years, though their usual life span is shorter.
Their Latin name is 'phoenicurus phoenicurus' where 'phoenicurus' is from the Ancient Greek 'phoinix' for 'red' and 'ouros' for 'tailed'. They were originally classified as a member of the thrush family (a 'turdus'), but are now, to their relief, placed in the flycatcher family ('muscicapidae'). Another local name for the Redstart is the 'Fire Tail'.
Their closely related cousin, the Black Redstart, is something of a city slicker and can often be seen hunting insects among London's rooftops.