Daurian Redstart

The Daurian Redstart is a small, brightly patterned songbird in the Old World flycatcher family. The male is unmistakable, with a silvery-grey crown and nape, a black face and throat, and warm orange-rufous underparts, rump, and tail, all set off by a bold white patch on the folded wing. Females and immatures are much plainer, soft grey-brown overall with a paler orange wash on the rump and tail, and a smaller or absent wing patch.

The species frequently perches in the open on low branches, fences, or wires, characteristically quivering its rufous tail up and down, which helps draw attention to it even where plumage contrast is less obvious.

Key field marks

• Male: grey crown, black face and throat, bright orange underparts, rump, and tail, white wing patch
• Female: plain grey-brown with an orange-washed rump and tail
• Frequent tail-quivering while perched
• Upright posture on exposed perches

Similar species

• Common Redstart (Europe) has a similar shape but the male shows an orange breast with a white forehead rather than a fully black face, and ranges do not normally overlap.
• Black Redstart lacks the grey crown contrast and white wing patch is different in extent.

Habitat

Uses open woodland, scrub, hedgerows, farmland, gardens, and parks, favoring areas with a mix of open ground and low cover.

Range

Breeds across northeastern China, Mongolia, Korea, and southeastern Russia; winters more widely across eastern and southern China, Korea, Japan, and northern Southeast Asia.

Migration

A short- to medium-distance migrant, moving south out of its breeding range for the winter, when it is a familiar garden and park visitor across much of East Asia.

Behavior

Perches conspicuously on low branches, fences, and wires, frequently flicking and quivering its rufous tail; often solitary and territorial, even on the wintering grounds.

Voice

A thin, wheezy song and a hard, ticking "tak-tak" or "hweet-tak-tak" call.

Feeding

Sallies from a perch to catch insects in flight or drops to the ground to seize prey, also eating spiders and berries, especially in winter.

Nesting

Builds a cup nest in a cavity, wall crevice, or among rocks; lays 4-6 pale blue eggs.