Black redstart

About

The Black redstart is a bird of cliffs and buildings. In nature, it inhabits rocky slopes, cliffs, and screes, while it readily settles in villages and cities near humans. In Ukraine, it nests almost throughout the territory, except for most of Crimea, and in the Carpathians, it can be found from villages in the valleys to rocky peaks. In the Alps, it has been observed at altitudes of up to 3200 m above sea level.

The bird is about 14 cm long and weighs 14–19 g. The male is dark gray, almost black on the throat and chest, with a light spot on the wing, while the female is grayish-brown. Both are distinguished by a bright reddish tail, which the bird constantly flicks while sitting on a stone, fence, or roof.

The Black redstart builds its nests in a variety of cavities and crevices — in cliffs, in stone or brick walls, under eaves, in attics, and even in piles of stones; it also occupies artificial nesting sites and old swallow nests. The typical clutch contains five white eggs, and the chicks leave the nest at the age of 12–16 days.

Compared to other insectivorous birds, the Black redstart migrates late and returns early. It arrives in the Carpathians at the end of March to early April and departs in early October, wintering in Southern Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. The Black redstart is not listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Slovakia · Czechia · Poland · Romania · Hungary · Ukraine · Austria · Serbia · BG

Mountain ranges

High Tatras, Western Tatras, Moravian-Silesian Beskids, Bucegi Mountains, Low Tatras, Skole Beskids, Bieszczady, Bükk, Piatra Craiului, Silesian Beskids

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ