Black Redstart

Identification: Adult males of race phoenicuroides show grey-black back, head, and upper breast contrasting with orange-rufous lower breast, belly, and vent; rufiventris is similar, but larger, more richly-toned rufous below, and blacker on upperparts. Female is grey-brown on upperparts and underparts. First-winter males are highly variable; some attain near-adult plumage by autumn, while most retain a female-like plumage through the winter. Separated from Daurian Redstart in all plumages by the lack of white wing-spot, which is always present in that species. Most likely confusion species is Common Redstart, which breeds from western Europe to far northwestern China and winters in sub-Saharan Africa. It differs by being noticeably paler in all plumages and always shows some orange-rufous tones on underparts above the vent. The spacing of primaries, visible on photos showing a back view, is the most reliable separator. However, an in-depth discussion of this feature is impossible here; instead see Laurens B Steijn's article in Dutch Birding 27(3), linked in the references below. Adult males separated from Hodgson's Redstart (short-distance migrant in China and northern Myanmar) by lack of white wing-spots; females and first-winter birds of that species are noticeably paler and browner, with less grey tones.