Black Redstart | 05 Mar 2020

• It is a small-sized bird (14-15 cms) and it breeds across the Himalayan Range.
• It occurs almost throughout Europe, Asia and in the portions of Africa and breed in the high altitude areas of Kashmir, Ladakh, Tibet and the Central Himalayan Range.
  
  • In India, the bird sticks to areas near wetlands, open cultivation, scrubs, gardens and orchards.
• The bird has two races:
  
  • P. phoenicuroides (in Western Himalayas)
  • P. Rufiventris (in Central and Eastern Himalayas)
• The primary difference between them is that the male of the former has a grey crown, nape and lower back while the latter ones are much darker.
• Both sexes display a bright rufous-orange tail which is best seen when they fly or flash it open while shivering their tails, justifying the name Redstart (steort means ‘tail’ in proto-Germanic language).
• IUCN Red List status- Least Concerned.
• It is protected under the Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.