Daurian Redstart

Overview

The Daurian redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus) is a small passerine bird native to temperate Asia. It belongs to the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae, and is characterised by strong sexual dimorphism. First described in 1776, the species is widespread and rather common, currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Breeding males have a grey crown and nape, a black face and chin, brownish mantle and wings with a large white wing patch, and an orange chest, lower back, rump, and tail sides.
• Females are warm brown above and paler below, featuring an orange rump and tail sides along with a large white wing patch similar to males.
• The species measures 14 to 15 cm in length and weighs between 11 and 20 g, with black bills, eyes, legs, and feet in both sexes.

Habitat

Daurian redstarts are found in Manchuria, southeastern Russia, northeastern Mongolia, central China, and Korea, favouring open forests, forest edges, agricultural margins, parks, and urban gardens. The species is migratory, with the nominate subspecies wintering in Korea, Japan, southeast coastal China, and Taiwan, while the western subspecies winters in northeast India and parts of Southeast Asia.

Did you know?

Daurian redstarts tend to choose mates with similar wing patch sizes to their own, though this trait does not seem to play a role in reproductive success. They are also reasonably confiding, often allowing humans to approach quite closely before moving off.