Common Redstart

Lifespan: The recorded oldest individual lived 9 years.

Breeding: In Western Europe, breeding period covers late April to mid-July and in Southern Europe starts up to two weeks earlier. In northern Finland it takes place from late May to late June. The nest is a cup-shaped structure made of grass, roots and moss, lined with hair and feathers and usually installed at a height of 1 to 6 m in a hole in a tree or wall, or on old stump or in a nest box. 5-7 eggs are laid in the nest and the incubation period lasts 12-14 days.

Appearance: The Common Redstart is slightly smaller than the House Sparrow. The male is easily recognisable by his contrasting colours: the back is grey, the uppertail coverts and tail feathers, except for the middle pair, are bright brown, the forehead, sides of the head, throat and malar area are black, and the front of the crown is white. The belly and sides are bright brown, and the area in the middle of the belly is lighter. The bill is grey-black, the legs dark grey, and the iris dark brown. The female has a lighter brownish-grey colour. Her belly is brownish-white, and the uppertail coverts and tail are bright brown. In autumn, the male has a brownish back and the lower part of the body is whitish. The young are brownish-mottled, with black feather edges and brownish spots. Immediately after hatching out, the fledglings have a cover of long dark grey down and their mouth is light orange.