- 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
There are 2 subspecies:
- P. a. auroreus:
- P. a. leucopterus:
Habitat
Breeds in summer in subalpine forest, winters in lower deciduous scrub and cultivated land. Usually a common bird in suitable habitat.
Behaviour
Frequently shivers or shakes the tail.
Diet
The diet includes insects, seeds and berries.
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.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Birding In Taiwan
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Daurian Redstart. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Daurian_Redstart