Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

Our species of the month is the Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros). Black Redstarts are found in coastal, urban, and inland rocky areas. Males are distinctive grey with red flushes around the tail, and a white panel on the wings, the females are grey-brown, and more similar to Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), which are a brighter brown and have a more vivid red rump. Some say that the song of the Black Redstart sounds like rustling a bag of marbles followed by a short whistle.

In the UK, Black Redstart numbers boomed following the Blitz, as destroyed buildings provided perfect nesting sites. This led to the bird being referred to as the 'bombsite bird'. On Alderney, they are spring and autumn migrants, with some birds potentially overwintering in the Bailiwick^[1]. When one is visiting the island, its often seen around the town or near farmland. St. Anne's church has proved to be a regular site in 2025.

If you see any late autumn or winter migrant birds, send your records in!

^[1] Young et al. (2023). A Working List of the Birds of the Channel Islands. Accessed from http://www.birdsontheedge.org on 2025-12-04.