Redstart - description, habitat, interesting facts

The common redstart - a bird of small size, differs from its relatives in the beauty of the color of its plumage. Belongs to the order of the passer. Many ordinary people are familiar with the other names of this unusual bird - garden redstart or coot.

The body of the Redstart does not exceed 150 mm, its wingspan is 240 mm, and the maximum body weight of this small bird is about 25 grams.

Habitat species

Although this species can be found in almost all countries, nevertheless, the most common redstart population is in southeast Asia, India, and the Eurasian continent. Particular preference is given to the birds of this species in the mountainous terrain, but they often live in pine forests. Ordinary deciduous and mixed forests, replete with dense shrub and grass vegetation, are also suitable for living. The main place of wintering redstarts is the African continent.

To date, there are several varieties of redstarting, while the main difference between them from each other is the color of feather attire, which differs from other species of birds with greater brightness and vivid colors.

The tail of the redstart is bright red, the rest of the feather cover is white, black or metallic gray. The color of the male plumage is somewhat brighter than that of the female.

In the cold season, the tips of the feathers of the male become whitish. I would like to note that the redstart garden is a rather active and sociable bird, which is constantly in motion.

Power Features

Quite interesting is the immediate process of obtaining and subsequent eating food. Before eating its prey, the bird must first carry it to a fairly safe place, where no one will disturb it at the table.

If the bird's prey is quite large, for example, a bug, in order to stun it, the redstart drops it from a height to the ground, and then finishes it with a small sharp beak. For smaller insects and grasshoppers, birds of this species first pinch off the legs, and then eat.

That food, which is obtained by the bird for feeding its offspring, is first crushed into small pieces, only after that it is sent to feed the chicks.

Breeding features

The best place to nest a redstart is the hollow of a tree; sometimes these birds build their nests under the roof of various buildings. Often there are nests of this species of birds, built in the root system of large trees, which is especially convenient for its secure attachment. As a rule, for the construction of a nest the bird uses the following materials: dry twigs and vegetation, moss, sometimes found nearby human habitation, ropes, threads.

The duty of the male during the nesting period is to protect the place chosen for the construction of the nest from other birds and to clean it daily - it removes all that is not needed from the nest in its beak.

The redstart female debugs its eggs in the second half of May; their number in one clutch reaches 6-8 pieces. Eggs of the correct form, gentle bluish color. The duration of incubation is about 2 weeks. After spitting, young chicks are in the nest under the supervision of their parents for about 3 weeks.

Both parents are engaged in the process of feeding offspring: every day, both the male and the female bring food to their chicks to the nest, while the number of such foraging flights reaches several hundred. Feeding continues until the younger generation becomes independent and begins to fly.

Bird voice

Another feature of the bird, in addition to its original color of feather attire, is the unique singing of the redstart, which can be divided into several parts following each other: the introductory section, the culmination and the final part of the performed composition.

After watching some bald spots for a while, even an ordinary man in the street will be able to notice that this species of feathery often parodies the sounds made by other birds during the performance of its songs.

Redstart ordinary sing almost all the time, while doing a break only for a night rest, the duration of which is literally a few hours. At sunrise, the little birds wake up and immediately begin to sing their amazingly melodic songs. In fact, this bird got its name due to its spectacular appearance - feathers blazing brightly in the rays of the morning sun.

Interesting facts about the bird

1. Such a bird as the redstart is very useful for humans, which is explained by the fact that it effectively destroys harmful insects that spoil the crop.
2. If a bird sees its reflection in a mirror, it starts attacking it immediately.
3. The redstart females, preying to feed the insects, prefer to hunt their prey on the surface of the earth, and the male coot tend to catch insects in the air.
4. Birds of this species are noted for being able to nurse the offspring of other species of birds, for example, small cuckoo chicks. At the same time, they not only get the food they need, but also teach them how to fly and take care until the young offspring becomes completely independent.
5. Redstarts are the most recognizable and interesting birds for human observation. Their original and bright coloring can not be confused with any other species of birds.

Video: Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)