Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus) lives in open woodland across East Asia, Southeast Asia. It feeds on insects and spiders. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Daurian Redstart
- First described by the naturalist Peter Simon Pallas in 1776, the Daurian redstart has been known to science for over two centuries, yet its lineage only split from close relatives about 3-1.5 million years ago during the early Pleistocene glaciations.
- Unlike many shy forest birds, Daurian redstarts are surprisingly bold, often letting people approach within arm's length before fluttering away. They favor open forests, forest edges, agricultural margins and even urban gardens, making them a frequent sight in city parks.
- The Daurian redstart's range stretches across Manchuria, southeastern Russia, northeastern Mongolia, central China and Korea, with two subspecies migrating to distinct winter homes: P. a. auroreus heads to Korea, Japan, southeast coastal China and Taiwan, while P. a. leucopterus winters in northeast India and parts of Southeast Asia.
- At just 14 to 15 cm long and weighing only 11 to 20 g, the Daurian redstart fits on the tip of a child's finger yet flashes colors louder than a carnival. Its tiny frame carries a bold orange chest, a white wing patch and a striking grey crown.
- During the breeding season, pairs are spotted as early as May, and they choose mates whose white wing-patch size closely matches their own. Although the size match doesn't affect the number of chicks raised.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeEast Asia, Southeast Asia
HabitatOpen woodland
DietInsects and spiders
About the Daurian Redstart
In the lush, vibrant landscapes of East Asia, the Daurian Redstart flits and flutters with an air of effortless elegance, its rusty-red plumage glowing like embers as it darts between the branches of shrubs and trees. With a twitch of its tail and a flick of its wing, this charismatic bird navigates its surroundings with a captivating blend of agility and precision, its very presence seeming to embody the carefree spirit of the natural world. As it alights upon a rocky outcropping or a moss-covered boulder, the Daurian Redstart's melodic song rings out, a joyful, lilting melody that fills the air and underscores its status as a true marvel of evolution.
Hear the Daurian Redstart, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
