Photo: J.M.Garg / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-capped Redstart
Phoenicurus leucocephalus
White-capped Redstart (Phoenicurus leucocephalus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 9 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-capped Redstart (Phoenicurus leucocephalus) is a member of the Muscicapidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 30 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Muscicapidae Chats, Old World Flycatchers
- Genus Phoenicurus
- Species leucocephalus
Where it lives
Central Asia through the Himalayas to central, northeastern China, northern Myanmar, northern Thailand and northern Indochina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 30 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-capped Redstart hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The White-capped Redstart is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-capped Redstart (Phoenicurus leucocephalus) belongs to the Muscicapidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL Central Asia through the Himalayas to c, ne China, n Myanmar, n Thailand and n Indochina.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 30 g, with a wing length of about 9 cm and a tail of around 7.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-capped Redstart?
The White-capped Redstart is a small bird that weighs around 30 g.
Where does the White-capped Redstart live?
The White-capped Redstart is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL Central Asia through the Himalayas to c, ne China, n Myanmar, n Thailand and n Indochina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-capped Redstart belong to?
The White-capped Redstart (Phoenicurus leucocephalus) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-capped Redstart eat?
The White-capped Redstart hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the White-capped Redstart migrate?
The White-capped Redstart is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-capped Redstart endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the White-capped Redstart make?
1 real field recording of the White-capped Redstart — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-capped Redstart's range?
The White-capped Redstart has a mapped global range of about 4.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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A field guide to the Muscicapidae family — 355 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.