Black Redstart Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)

Black Redstarts are predominantly passage migrants and winter visitors to the UK although there are around 100 breeding pairs that are resident all year round. These small members of the Chat family are widespread throughout Europe, Asia, The Middle East and North Africa and were first recorded breeding in the UK in the 1920s.

There were large numbers reported after WWII when they nested in bombed out buildings. These damaged buildings provided perfect nesting sites reminiscent of their cliff side, scree slopes and rocky crags nesting sites. This gave the Black Redstart the nickname of the “bomb-site bird”.

They can be seen in small numbers in many UK cities however, they are at risk from habitat loss due to urban redevelopment. They need stony areas with minimal vegetation to forage for food and the cracks and gaps in derelict buildings that they use as nesting sites.

To find out more about these interesting birds, keep reading.

How Long Does A Black Redstart Live?

Black Redstarts generally live for around 2 to 5 years in the wild. However, in some cases, individual birds can live longer with the maximum recorded age being just shy of 10 years.

Their lifespan can be influenced by various factors such as predation, habitat, food availability, and environmental conditions.

How Fast Can A Black Redstart Fly?

The typical flight speed of a Black Redstart is around 10 to 20 mph (16 to 32 km/h). They are agile fliers, particularly suited to quick, darting movements rather than sustained high-speed flight. This agility helps them navigate their often rocky or urban environments while foraging for insects.

Having said that, Black Redstarts are long distance migratory birds with many spending their winters in Africa and returning to Europe at the end of March or early April. They use thermal air and following winds to increase their flight speed on these long distance flights enabling them to cover large distances.

Are Black Redstarts Aggressive?

While Black Redstarts are not considered highly aggressive overall, their territorial instincts can lead to confrontations, especially in densely populated areas or where competition for resources is high.

They can display aggressive behaviour, particularly when defending their territory during the breeding season. Males are known to be territorial and may engage in aggressive displays, such as chasing away intruders, including other males or even birds of different species that venture too close to their nesting or feeding areas.

What Is A Black Redstart’s Habitat?

Black Redstarts generally prefer mountainous regions where they nest on rocky crags, cliffs and scree slopes. However they have also adapted to living in many urban areas like cities and towns. They are particularly fond of industrial areas and use old damaged buildings, power stations and cranes as nesting sites.

They can also be found in town parks and gardens where they prefer sparsely vegetated areas and weedy, stony areas where they can forage for food. There have also been reported sightings in coastal areas as well as quarries and other man-made sites.

How Long Does It Take For A Black Redstart To Build A Nest?

It can take a Black Redstart anywhere between 5 and 8 days to construct a nest. The female will build a bowl-shaped nest from twigs, leaves, dried grass and moss. The nest is then lined with feathers, hair and animal fur.

The nest is built in a crevice, hole or on a ledge often in a natural rock face, cave or human structure.

Eggs

Once the nest has been successfully constructed to the satisfaction of the female, she will lay her eggs.

When Do Black Redstarts Lay Eggs?

Black Redstarts typically lay their eggs between the end of April and July. The average starting time for egg laying is in May and ends in June. Black Redstarts generally have one or two broods per season with both parents caring for the younglings.

The exact dates of egg laying in Black Redstarts is dependent on the weather, health of the breeding pair and the availability of food.

How Many Eggs Does A Black Redstart Lay?

There are typically 4 to 6 eggs in a brood and the pair will often raise two broods each year. The number of eggs laid is again dependent on a few things which include the age and experience of the female and the availability of adequate food supplies.

What Do Black Redstart Eggs Look Like?

Black Redstart eggs are usually white or pale blue in colour with no markings or spots. Each egg is around 19 x 14 mm in size and weighs around 2.2 grams of which 5% is the weight of the shell.

How Long Do Black Redstart Eggs Take To Hatch?

It takes around 12 to 16 days for Black Redstart eggs to hatch after being incubated by the female on her own. The male remains close by during the incubation period and is on hand to help raise the chicks once they hatch.

Chicks

Once the eggs hatch, we move on to the next stage in the life cycle of the Black Redstart, the chicks. This is a crucial stage and the chicks need to be cared for just right to allow them to become fully fledged adults.

How Many Chicks Does A Black Redstart Have?

In most cases, the number of chicks hatched corresponds with the number of eggs laid. However, sometimes there are unfertilised eggs or some that don’t hatch for a variety of reasons. 

In a typical clutch of 4 to 6 eggs most pairs will raise at least 4 chicks.

When Do Black Redstart Chicks Open Their Eyes?

Black Redstart chicks are altricial which means they are blind, naked and fully dependent on their parents when they hatch. They develop relatively quickly and typically open their eyes on around days 3 or 4.

As soon as they hatch, the chicks are covered with dark grey down on their head and back. 

When Do Black Redstart Chicks Fledge?

The parents feed the chicks a high protein diet which enables them to grow and develop at a fast rate.  They typically leave the nest from around day 12 to 20 although they don’t actually fly until they reach the age of around 32 to 35 days.

The younglings hide on the ground still being fed by their parents until their flight feathers and muscles are strong enough for them to make their first flight. This means the chicks are at their most vulnerable for roughly two weeks or more when they are trapped on the ground and could not easily escape any predators.

SEE ALSO: Ptarmigan Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements

Frequently Asked Questions