Wild Birds

Common Redstart Welfare and Woodland Nest Sites

The common redstart is a jewel of British woodland, with the male displaying a vivid orange-red tail, and its welfare depends on access to ancient woodland with natural tree holes and the insect communities of veteran trees.

Key Facts

UK redstart breeding population is around 100,000 pairs, concentrated in western oak woodland
Males have a striking grey, black, and orange-red plumage; females are warm brown with the diagnostic red tail
They nest in natural tree holes and readily use nest boxes in appropriate woodland
Redstarts winter in the Sahel zone of West Africa, making them vulnerable to conditions along the full flyway
The trembling of the red tail, called quivering, is a diagnostic behaviour for the genus

Welfare Considerations

Redstart welfare on British breeding grounds depends on ancient woodland with veteran trees providing natural nest holes and diverse invertebrate communities. Loss of oak veteran trees through development and disease reduces nest site availability. Nest box provision can compensate in some areas. On migration and wintering grounds, Sahel drought reduces food availability and survival. Deforestation in west African wintering quarters is an emerging additional pressure.

What You Can Do

Support nest box programs in redstart woodland in Wales and northern England
Contribute redstart spring arrival records to BTO BirdTrack to monitor migration timing
Advocate for ancient oak woodland protection and veteran tree retention
Back international conservation programs protecting Sahel habitat quality
Plant diverse native trees including oak to develop future veteran tree resources