Passeriformes / Muscicapidae / Phoenicurus
Güldenstädt's Redstart
Phoenicurus erythrogastrus · 红腹红尾鸲
Introduction
A species in the genus Phoenicurus, family Muscicapidae, found in high mountains of the southwestern and central Palearctic. It is one of the largest redstarts, breeding in alpine meadows and rock-fields at high altitudes and moving to subalpine scrub in winter.
Description
One of the largest redstarts, 18 cm (7.1 in) long and weighing 21–29 g (0.74–1.02 oz). The adult male is black above except for a white crown, a white patch on the wing, and an orange-red tail; below, the throat and upper breast are black, and the rest of the underparts are rich orange-red. The female and immature male are brown above and orange-buff below, with an orange-red tail.
Identification
The male closely resembles the white-capped redstart, sharing black upperparts and a white crown, but is distinguished by the presence of a white wing patch. Males also show plumage similarities to the much smaller Moussier's redstart, including the white wing patch. Females resemble an outsized common redstart.
Distribution & Habitat
Found in the Caucasus, Karakoram, Pamir, Himalaya, Tian Shan, and Altai mountains across Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, China, Georgia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Two subspecies exist: P. e. erythrogastrus in the Caucasus and P. e. grandis in Central Asian mountains. Breeds at 3,600–5,200 m (11,810–17,060 ft) in alpine meadows and rock-fields; winters at 1,500–4,800 m mainly in subalpine Hippophae scrub. Northernmost populations around Lake Baikal migrate further, reaching northeastern China.
Behavior & Ecology
Feeds on fruit and a wide variety of invertebrates.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Phoenicurus
Subspecies (2)
-
Phoenicurus erythrogastrus erythrogastrus
Caucasus Mountains to southern Caspian region of Iran
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
