Common Redstart

This Robin-sized, colourful member of the chat family is a summer visitor to our oak woodlands, arriving in Wales and the west of the UK from Central Africa in April/May to breed.

A specialist of rare temperate rainforest habitats (called Celtic rainforests in Wales), the amber-listed Redstart has one of the tricker to identify songs – not least because it’s a notorious mimic – but stick with it, as its tune is also sweet and soothing, especially when heard while bathing in the wet, moss-draped woodlands it loves to feed and nest in.

Sometimes referred to as the 'Common Redstart' – to distinguish it from the very different looking and rarer Black Redstart – the male has a lovely rusty-red chest with a striking slate grey back and an ebony-coloured head with a white ‘forehead’. Females and young are a prime example of the birding world phrase “little brown jobs” as they are a grey-brown with a few chestnut tail feathers and pale bellies. Both are beautiful little birds with upright stance, bobbing movements and quivering tails – but while the male is pretty unmistakable, the female is more challenging to pick out.

Belting out his catchy phrase over and over again – sometimes for hours – as he tirelessly appeals for a mate, males can normally be spotted on lower, more exposed branches (and rarely descend to ground level). Often described as ‘melancholic’, the Redstart’s song typically starts with a high, shrill whistle, followed by a swift descending, drawling warble that ends quite abruptly, with the entire tune lasting just a few seconds. The silences between repetitions are marked and lengthy (about five seconds), as if the birds are reluctant to start up their song again.

However, their songs are so variable and mimic others with such mastery, that they’re easy to mistake for other birds, especially woodland neighbour, the Pied Flycatcher, Chaffinch and Robin. 

Wales is a stronghold for this species and woodland nest box schemes help boost their dwindling numbers, helping ensure these masters of mimicry keep singing their sweet, melancholic songs.

Redstart call at a glance:

WHEN: These summer visitors start singing on their arrival from Central Africa around April and stay until around September

WHERE: These colourful tree-dwellers are specialists of temperate rainforest habitat and nest and feed in mature oak woods and Celtic rainforests. They can also sometimes be heard or seen in heathland and parkland.

WHAT: Song is quite short but sweet and melodic song that is repeated. It typically starts with a high, shrill whistle, followed by a swift descending warble that ends quite abruptly. Alarm call is a sharp, ascending ‘hoooeet’ sound combined by a series of rapid ‘tic, tic, tic’ sounds. The Redstart mimics other birds and can be easily confused with some of the warblers and the Chiffchaff.