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- Phoenicurus auroreus
Identification
6" (15 cm.) Sexually dimorphic. Male: Crown and nape grey, edged with silver; throat, lores, and cheeks black; mantle and wings brownish-black, with a large, white wing patch; remaining plumage reddish-rufous, with darker-colored central tail feathers. Female: brown, with a large, white wing-patch, buffy eyering; tail reddish-rufous like male, but more dull; vent may also be rufous. Both sexes with black bill and feet.
Confusion species - White-winged Redstart is larger, with a larger white wing patch and silver-white crown and nape in the male, female much paler and lacking the white wing patch. Male Hodgson's Redstart paler, with white eyebrow and smaller, narrower wing patch. Male White-throated Redstart with white throat patch, wing patch a long thin streak with white tertial edges. Black Redstart without white wing patch in either sex.
Distribution
Breeds from NE Asia to SW China, winters in Japan, S China, Taiwan, N Indochina, and Myanmar.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Breeds in summer in subalpine forest, winters in lower deciduous scrub and cultivated land. Usually a common bird in suitable habitat. Frequently shivers or shakes the tail.
Behaviour
Vocalisation
Song a series of clear whistled notes; call may be a few soft whistles followed by tac, tac notes, or a sharp peep or hit, wheet.