Moussier's Redstart Phoenicurus moussieri Scientific name definitions

12 cm; 14–15 g. Male has long white band from forehead along super­cilium and around rear ear-coverts, blackish from head below eye to back and wings , white wing flash , rusty-orange rump and tail, latter with dark central feathers, rusty-orange underparts ; in fresh plumage scaled buff above and below; bill and legs black. Female is brown above , orange-buff below , tail as male; like ­female P. phoenicurus but more heavily orange-tinged below, faint buff-white wing flash. Juvenile is like female, underparts mottled or scaled dark on buff from throat to breast, more weakly on belly, but juvenile male has black wings with white patch.

Morocco (Middle and High Atlas, W Anti-Atlas) E to N Tunisia, possibly NW Libya (Jebel Nefoussa (1 Clement, P., and C. Rose (2015). Robins and Chats. Christopher Helm, London, United Kingdom. Close ) ); non-breeding disperses to lower altitudes, possibly regular in Malta (2 Fenech, N. and Sammjut, M. (2013). Increased numbers of wintering Moussier’s Redstarts in Malta. British Birds 106(1): 42–43. Close ).

Sedentary to some degree, but clear altitudinal movement and dispersive behaviour, and also a partial migrant. Leaves higher breeding areas Oct–Apr (Nov–Feb on N side of High Atlas above 2000 m and on S side above 2500 m); main downward influx in Morocco only mid-Nov to end Jan, some returning as early as Feb. Other movements little understood. Large numbers in winter in Moulouya Valley, in NE Morocco; in Algeria, where downward movement occurs Oct–Nov (return Feb–Mar), some influx in semi-desert around Mont des Ksours and the Saharan Atlas; in Tunisia appears in coastal regions and deserts. Recorded as vagrant in Mauritania. Vagrants recorded also in S & W Europe, including Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and Britain, and several have overwintered; in Italy nine records to end of 2011, although possible that this species is a regular winter visitor to Pelagie Is (off S Italy). Since first recorded in Malta (in 1933), total of 40 (24 males and 16 females) up to end Nov 2012, with 18 records in spring and 22 in autumn and winter; since 2005 no fewer than 22 records, a male and two females in spring and the rest (four males and 15 females) in autumn, some of which overwintered; apparent recent increase likely due at least in part to increase in skill of observers in identifying females/immatures of this species (3 Fenech, N. and Sammjut, M. (2013). Increased numbers of wintering Moussier's Redstarts in Malta. British Birds. 106: 42-43. Close ).

Insects, mainly ants (one seen feeding for long period on them, and a stomach held only small ants), beetles, grasshoppers and larvae; also some vegetable material, including olive flesh. Foods taken to young include moth caterpillars. Perches on low bushes or tree branches, flying to catch prey on ground ; sometimes digs with bill into ground, and occasionally sallies after flying insects. In one observation, in Feb, an individual made 33 perch-and-pounce flights in 24 minutes and apparently took food 29 times; typically flew less than 10 m, landed on ground from low perch (under canopy of small tree), hopped once, pecked at substrate, hopped again, then flew back to same or similar perch.

Song a series of phrases , each a short scratchy warble consisting of thin reedy buzzing notes repeated up to ten times, e.g. “zírezrize zerízerízer zerezerizera”; subsong a soft rapid jumble of low whistles, chirrups and chuckles. Calls  include high “iiip iiip” often followed by rasping “tr-rr-rr”, for contact and mild alarm, the two combined in alarm near nest, “pi-chirrr”; also “psew”.

Mid-Mar in SW Morocco, Apr –Jul in rest of country, but mid-May to Jun and perhaps Aug at elevations above 2000 m; early Apr to mid-Jun in Algeria and Tunisia; two broods probably common. Nest a cup of dry coarse grass, lined with feathers and hair, usually on ground in shelter of bush, thorn scrub, grass tussock or plant tuft, but often in fork of tree or bush up to 2 m above ground; sometimes placed in base of bush (Genista, Cistus, Juniperus) or amid boulders, or in hole in wall, discarded can, bank, trunk of old tree or traditional thatched roof. Eggs 3–6, usually 4–5, plain pale blue or white. Some brood parasitism by Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) occurs. No other information.