Editing Common redstart

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Common redstart
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |author-link=BirdLife International |year=2019 |title=''Phoenicurus phoenicurus'' |amends=2016 |page=e.T22710055A155611852 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22710055A155611852.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = Gartenrotschwanz 1.jpg
| image_caption = Male<br>
[[File:Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) (W1CDR0001505 BD3).ogg|thumb|center|Song recorded in England]]
| genus = Phoenicurus
| species = phoenicurus
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision = 
* ''Phoenicurus phoenicurus phoenicurus''
<small>nominate common redstart</small>
* ''Phoenicurus phoenicurus samamisicus''
<small>'Ehrenberg's redstart'</small>
| synonyms = ''Motacilla phoenicurus'' {{small|Linnaeus,&nbsp;1758}}
| range_map = PhoenicurusPhoenicurusIUCN.svg
| range_map_caption = Distribution of common redstart {{leftlegend|#00FF00|Breeding|outline=gray}} {{leftlegend|#00FFFF|Passage|outline=gray}} {{leftlegend|#007FFF|Non-breeding|outline=gray}} 
}}
The '''common redstart''' ('''''Phoenicurus phoenicurus'''''), or often simply '''redstart''', is a small [[passerine]] [[bird]] in the genus ''[[Phoenicurus]]''. Like its relatives, it was formerly classed as a member of the [[Thrush (bird)|thrush]] family, (Turdidae), but is now known to be an [[Old World flycatcher]] (family Muscicapidae).

==Taxonomy and systematics==
The first [[Species description|formal description]] of the common redstart was by the Swedish naturalist [[Carl Linnaeus]] in 1758 in the [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|tenth edition]] of his ''[[Systema Naturae]]'' under the [[binomial nomenclature|binomial name]] ''Motacilla phoenicurus''.<ref>{{cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=C. | author-link=Carl Linnaeus | year=1758 | title= Systema Naturæ per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis, Volume 1| volume=1 | edition=10th | page=187 | publisher=Holmiae:Laurentii Salvii  | language=la | url= https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/727096 }}</ref> The genus ''Phoenicurus'' was introduced by the English naturalist [[Thomas Ignatius Maria Forster|Thomas Forster]] in 1817.<ref>{{ cite book | last=Forster | first=Thomas | author-link=Thomas Ignatius Maria Forster | year=1817 | title=A Synoptical Catalogue of British Birds | place=London | publisher=Nichols, Son, and Bentley | page=53 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13330970 }}</ref> The genus and species name ''phoenicurus'' is from [[Ancient Greek]] ''phoinix'', "red", and ''-ouros'' -"tailed".<ref>{{cite book | last= Jobling | first= James A. | year= 2010| title= The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | url= https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling | publisher=Christopher Helm | location = London, United Kingdom | isbn = 978-1-4081-2501-4 | page=[https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling/page/n304 304]}}.</ref>

Two [[subspecies]] are accepted. The [[nominate subspecies|nominate]] ''P. p. phoenicurus'' is found all over Europe and reaches into [[Siberia]]. To the southeast, subspecies ''P. p. samamisicus'', sometimes called 'Ehrenberg's redstart', is found from the [[Crimean Peninsula]] and [[Greece]] through [[Turkey]], the [[Caucasus]], the [[Middle East]], and into [[Central Asia]]. Adult males have white outer webs in the [[remiges]], forming a pale to whitish wing-patch similar to the one seen in [[black redstart]] and [[Daurian redstart]]. This patch is also present but less conspicuous in some immature males, and sometimes in adult females. Some males exhibit a blackish mantle, too. Both subspecies intergrade widely in the southern [[Balkans]] and coastal [[Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Martinez |first1=Nicolas |last2=Kirwan |first2=Guy M. |last3=Schweizer |first3=Manuel |date=2023-01-01 |title=Resolving disputed subspecies distribution limits, and revealing intraspecific intergradation, in the Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus using citizen science and museum data |journal=Journal of Ornithology |language=en |volume=164 |issue=1 |pages=1–12 |doi=10.1007/s10336-022-02007-x |issn=2193-7206|doi-access=free |bibcode=2023JOrni.164....1M }}</ref>

The closest genetic relative of the common redstart may be the [[Moussier's redstart]], though incomplete sampling of the genus gives some uncertainty to this.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Sangster | first1 = G. | last2 = Alström | first2 = P. | last3 = Forsmark | first3 = E. | last4 = Olsson | first4 = U. | year = 2010 | title = Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of Old World chats and flycatchers reveals extensive paraphyly at family, subfamily and genus level (Aves: Muscicapidae) | url = http://www.nrm.se/download/18.3ebfe5cf12a9d3ebacb80002787/Sangster+et+al+2010+Muscicapidae+MPE.pdf | journal = Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume = 57 | issue = 1 | pages = 380–392 | doi = 10.1016/j.ympev.2010.07.008 | pmid = 20656044 | bibcode = 2010MolPE..57..380S | access-date = 2010-10-19 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160412051754/http://www.nrm.se/download/18.3ebfe5cf12a9d3ebacb80002787/Sangster+et+al+2010+Muscicapidae+MPE.pdf | archive-date = 2016-04-12 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Its ancestors were apparently the first redstarts to spread to Europe; they seem to have diverged from the black redstart group about 3 [[mya (unit)|mya]], during the [[Piacenzian]].<ref name=Ertan>Ertan, K. T. (2006). The Evolutionary History of Eurasian Redstarts "Phoenicurus". ''Acta Zoologica Sinica'' 52 (Supplement): 310–313. [http://www.actazool.org/downloadpdf.asp?id=5067 PDF fulltext] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525232956/http://www.actazool.org/downloadpdf.asp?id=5067 |date=2014-05-25 }}</ref> Genetically, common and black redstarts are still fairly compatible and can produce [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrids]] that appear to be healthy and fertile, but they are separated by different [[behaviour]] and [[ecology|ecological]] requirements so hybrids are rather rare in nature.<ref name=Grosch>Grosch, Kai (2004). Hybridization Between the Redstart ''Phoenicurus phoenicurus'' and Black Redstart ''P. ochruros'', and the Effect on Habitat Exploitation. ''[[Journal of Avian Biology|J. Avian Biol.]]'' 35 (3): 217–223. {{doi|10.1111/j.0908-8857.2004.03128.x}} (HTML abstract)</ref><ref>Martinez N., Nicolai B., van der Spek V. (2019) Redstart hybrids in Europe and North Africa. ''[[British Birds (magazine)|British Birds]]''112:190-210. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332211724_Redstart_hybrids_in_Europe_and_North_Africa/link/5feaf35645851553a001e6ba/download</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://bebbibabbler.jimdofree.com/projekte/rotschwanz-hybriden/ | title=Rotschwanz-Hybriden und Mischsänger }}</ref>

==Description==
The Common Redstart shows some affinity to the [[European Robin]] in many of its habits and actions. It has the same general carriage, and [[chat (bird)|chat]]-like behaviour, and is the same length at 13–14.5&nbsp;cm long but slightly slimmer and not quite as heavy, weighing 11–23 g. The orange-red tail, from which it and other redstarts get their names ("start" is an old word for "tail"), is frequently quivered. Among common European birds, only the [[Black Redstart]] (''Phoenicurus ochrurus'') has a similarly coloured tail.<ref name=Hoyo>{{cite book| editor-last = Hoyo| editor-first = J. del| display-editors = et al| title = Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 10| publisher = Lynx Edicions| year = 2005| location = Barcelona| pages = 771| isbn = 84-87334-72-5| url = https://archive.org/details/handbookofbirdso0001unse| url-access = registration}}</ref><ref name=Snow>{{cite book |title=The Birds of the Western Palearctic |author1=Snow, D. W. |author2=Perrins, C. M. |name-list-style=amp |edition=Concise |year=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |hdl = 11245/1.132115|isbn=0-19-854099-X}}</ref>

[[Image:Phoenicurus phoenicurus female.jpg|left|thumb|Female]]
The male in summer has a slate-grey head and upperparts, except the [[rump (animal)|rump]] and tail, which, like the flanks, underwing coverts and axillaries are orange-chestnut. The forehead is white; the sides of the face and throat are black. The two central tail feathers are dark brown, the other tail feathers bright orange-red. The wings are grey-brown in male ''P. p. phoenicurus'' but the [[remiges]] have white outer webs forming a pale to whitish wing-patch in adult male ''P. p. samamisicus'' (see Taxonomy and systematics). The orange on the flanks shades to almost white on the belly. The [[Beak|bill]] and legs are black. In autumn, pale feather fringes on the body feathering obscure the colours of the male, giving it a washed-out appearance. The female is grey-brown above and buff-white or light orange below. In most females the throat is whitish, but some (older?) females show a dark bib, some even approaching males in appearance. In ''P. p. samamisicus'', many females tend to show a light wing-patch, analogous to the males but much less prominent. 

==Distribution and habitat==

Common Redstarts prefer open mature [[birch]], [[oak]] or, particularly in the north of the breeding range, [[conifer]] [[woodland]] with a high horizontal visibility and low amounts of shrub and understorey especially where the trees are old enough to have holes suitable for its nest. Other habitats of the species are orchards as well as villages, parks and old gardens in urban areas.<ref>Urs N. Glutz von Blotzheim (Hrsg.): Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas. Bearb. u. a. von Kurt M. Bauer, Einhard Bezzel und Urs N. Glutz von Blotzheim. 14 Bände in 23 Teilen. Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft, Frankfurt am Main 1966 ff., Aula-Verlag, Wiesbaden 1985 ff. (2. Auflage). </ref> In Britain the Common Redstart occurs primarily in upland areas less affected by [[intensive farming|agricultural intensification]]. Nests are built in cavities, e.g. natural tree holes, so dead trees or those with dead limbs are beneficial to the species; nestboxes are commonly used. A high cover of [[moss]] and [[lichen]] is also preferred.<ref name=Hoyo/><ref name=Snow/>

In [[England]], where it has declined by 55% in the past 25 years {{when|reason=Past 25 years as of when?|date=April 2022}}, the [[Forestry Commission]] offers grants under a scheme called England's Woodland Improvement Grant (EWIG); as does  [[Natural England]]s [[Environmental Stewardship]] Scheme.{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}} It is a very rare breeding bird in [[Ireland]], with between one and five pairs breeding in most years, nearly all of them in [[County Wicklow]].<ref>Perry, Kenneth W.  "The Annual Report of the Irish Rare Birds Breeding Panel 2012" ''Irish Birds'' Vol. 9 p.573</ref>

==Behaviour and ecology==

It is a summer visitor throughout most of [[Europe]] and western [[Asia]] (east to [[Lake Baikal]]), and also in northwest [[Africa]] in [[Morocco]]. It winters in central Africa and [[Arabia]], south of the [[Sahara Desert]] but north of the Equator, from [[Senegal]] east to [[Yemen]]. It is widespread as a breeding bird in [[Great Britain]], particularly in upland broadleaf woodlands and hedgerow trees, but in [[Ireland]] it is very local, and may not breed every year.

The first males arrive in early to mid April,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/redstart/index.asp|title=Redstart|publisher=RSPB}}</ref> often a few days in advance of the females. Five or six light blue eggs are laid during May, with a second brood in midsummer in the south of the breeding range. It departs for Africa between mid-August and early October. It often feeds like a [[Old World flycatcher|flycatcher]], making [[Hawking (birds)|aerial sallies]] after passing insects, and most of its food consists of winged [[insect]]s. The main contact call in Central Europe is a rising, slightly dissylabilic huid. In southern Italy and as well as within the range of the subspecies P. p. samamisicus this call is replaced by a monosyllabic heed. This call can be rising or constant in [[Italy]] but is always constant and reminiscent of the slightly higher pitched contact calls of [[Collared Flycatcher]] ''Ficedula albicollis'' in ''P. p. samamisicus.'' A third call variant exists on the [[Iberia]]n peninsula, whereas in [[Siberia]] huid and heed calls can be combined. All call variants are regularly combined with ticking alarm calls.<ref>Martinez N. & Martin R. (2020 ) Geographical variation in Common Redstart calls. ''[[Dutch Birding]]'' 43: 163–174. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342183322_Geographical_variation_in_Common_Redstart_calls</ref>

The male's song consists of soft melancholy strophes lasting 1–2 seconds that can be divided into three parts: an introduction, a repetitive part and a more variable third part. This structure seems to be very constant across the breeding range of the [[nominate]] subspecies, but is more variable in ''P. p. samamisicus'' where the introduction only rarely consists solely of a clear whistle similar to that of nominate ''P. p. phoenicurus''.<ref>Ayé R., Martinez N., Stalling T. (2014) The vocalisations of ‘Ehrenberg’s Redstart’ [[British Birds (magazine)|British Birds]] 107: 26–36. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259922119_The_vocalisations_of_'Ehrenberg's_Redstart'/link/5cf66df8a6fdcc847503c004/download</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://soundapproach.co.uk/use-it-or-lose-it/ | title=10 - Use it or lose it | date=7 June 2021 }}</ref>

Common Redstarts are sometimes parasitised by [[common cuckoo]]s. Surprisingly, redstart chicks did not suffer from sharing the nest with a cuckoo chick. The presence of a cuckoo might even be beneficial for the nestlings. The large size of the cuckoo chick affects the thermoregulation in the nest. In some sense, the cuckoo chick is 'brooding' the redstart nestlings. Moreover, food provision might be better for redstart chicks in a mixed brood.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kysučan|first1=Michal|last2=Samaš|first2=Peter|last3=Grim|first3=Tomáš|date=2020|title=Post-fledging interactions between the Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus and its cavity-nesting Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus host|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ibi.12719|journal=Ibis|language=en|volume=162|issue=1|pages=90–103|doi=10.1111/ibi.12719|s2cid=92114175 |issn=1474-919X|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bou.org.uk/blog-jo-mixed-broods/|title=Mixed Broods|date=2019-05-02|website=British Ornithologists' Union|access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref>

<gallery mode = packed heights = 180px>
Phoenicurus phoenicurus phoenicurus MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.194.1.jpg|''Phoenicurus phoenicurus phoenicurus'' - [[MHNT]]
Phoenicurus phoenicurus eggs.jpg|Nest with a clutch of eggs showing typical bluish colour 
Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) male ringed Malta.jpg|Male, ringed in Malta
Phoenicurus phoenicurus - feeding poster(js).jpg|Common redstart diet
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/common-redstart-phoenicurus-phoenicurus Common redstart videos, photos & sounds] on the Internet Bird Collection
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160820115254/http://aulaenred.ibercaja.es/wp-content/uploads/332_RedstartsPphoenicurus.pdf Ageing and sexing (PDF; 3.5 MB) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta & Gerd-Michael Heinze]
*[http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/redstart/index.aspx RSPB Website Description]
* [http://www.stevenround-birdphotography.com/Redstart,%20Common.htm Common redstart Images] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810133444/http://stevenround-birdphotography.com/Redstart,%20Common.htm |date=2013-08-10 }}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q26620}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Phoenicurus|common redstart]]
[[Category:Birds of Europe]]
[[Category:Birds of North Africa]]
[[Category:Birds of Central Asia]]
[[Category:Birds of West Asia]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1758|common redstart]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus|common redstart]]