Moussier's redstart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moussier's redstart |
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_male.jpg) |
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| Male, Toubkal, Morocco | |
_female_Cap_Bon.jpg) |
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| Female, Cap Bon Peninsula, Tunisia | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Phoenicurus
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| Species: |
moussieri
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The Moussier's redstart (Phoenicurus moussieri) is a small, colorful bird. It belongs to a group of birds called passerines, which are often known as "perching birds." This bird is a type of Old World flycatcher, even though it used to be thought of as a thrush.
You can find Moussier's redstarts living only in the Atlas Mountains of northwest Africa. This means they are an endemic species to that area. They like to live in open woodlands and rocky places. You can spot them from sea level all the way up to 3000 meters high in the mountains.
This is the smallest type of redstart. It's only about 12 centimeters (about 4.7 inches) long and weighs just 14–15 grams (about half an ounce).
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What Does It Look Like?
The male Moussier's redstart is very striking. It has a black head with a wide white stripe above each eye. This stripe goes down the side of its neck. Its back is black, but it has a clear white patch on its wing. The tail is a beautiful, rich chestnut color. This is where redstarts get their name, as "start" is an old word for "tail." The male's belly is a bright orange-red.
The female looks a bit different. She has a pale brown head and back. Her belly is a lighter orange than the male's. It's usually redder than the belly of a female common redstart, which is a similar but larger bird.
How Does It Behave?
The male Moussier's redstart has a unique song. It's a mix of rough, rasping sounds and clear svee-svee notes. When it calls, it makes a sad, single wheet sound.
These birds mainly eat insects. They often hunt like flycatchers, flying out to catch insects in the air. They also pick insects off the ground and sometimes even dig for them. Very rarely, they might eat small berries.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Moussier's redstarts build their nests in bushes or on the ground. A female usually lays 3 to 6 eggs at a time.
Where Do They Live?
Most Moussier's redstarts stay in the same area all year. However, some of them do move a little. Birds that live high up in the mountains might move to lower areas during winter. This is called altitudinal migration.
Sometimes, a Moussier's redstart might wander far from its usual home. These birds are called vagrants. They have been seen as far north as Great Britain, east to Greece, and south to Mauritania.
Naming the Moussier's Redstart
The scientific name for this bird, Phoenicurus, comes from ancient Greek words. Phoinix means "red," and -ouros means "tailed." This refers to their distinctive red tails.
Both the English name and the specific part of its scientific name, moussieri, honor Jean Moussier. He was an amateur naturalist and a surgeon in the French Army. He lived from 1795 to 1850.
