Plumbeous Redstart Phoenicurus fuliginosus Scientific name definitions

12–13 cm; 13–23 g. Male is slaty-blue, with rufous-chestnut tail and vent, black bill , pinkish tarsi. Female is slaty-gray above, with two white-spotted wingbars, white rump, black tail with white bases of outer rectrices; whitish with dense gray barring below. Juvenile is like female but browner and stippled buff above . Subspecies <em>affinis</em> male is like nominate, female is duller gray above, with narrower area of barring below, and slightly less white on rump and tail.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Margins and boulders of clear rocky streams and rivers both inside and outside forest, typically ranging from low-gradient streams 3–5 m in width to high-gradient broad, turbulent mountain torrents; occasional visits to adjacent trees and bushes. Breeds at 1000–4000 m in Himalayas, 1200–3600 m in China, and 600–2000 m in Taiwan, wintering down to adjacent lowlands; in Nepal winter abundance greatest at 600–1500 m. In winter, noted as preferring rocky streams at head of reservoirs and concrete channels of water catchments in Hong Kong; in Nepal, males noted on main wide rivers, while females occupied narrower, well-wooded tributaries.

Resident, subject to altitudinal movements, in Pakistan and India; some migrate very short distances, lowest areas perhaps occupied Dec–Jan. Similar movements, also some suspected winter immigration, in Thailand; some local movements in Laos. In Hong Kong a winter visitor, most individuals immatures or females, and 82% of records falling in period Dec–Feb (extremes late Oct to mid-Apr). Male photographed at R Ayaguz (near Qopa), in East Kazakhstan province, in Jun 2011 was the first of this species recorded in that country (3 Wassink, A. (2013). Birds of Kazakhstan: new and interesting data, part 4. Dutch Birding 35(1):30–34. Close ).

Insects, notably caddis flies and their larvae, mayflies and midges; occasionally berries (including Berberis) and seeds. In one study in China, 50 out of 58 stomachs examined contained insects  and their eggs, mainly coleopterans, lepidopterans, dipterans, hymenopterans, orthopterans, Odonata, and hemipterans (Pentatomidae), while 33 held plant material, including seeds, fruits and leaves; spiders also taken. Makes short flycatching sallies from rocks or overhanging branches, snatches aquatic prey from surface of water, hunts on foot along water’s edge and occasionally wades in shallows in search of water-borne prey. In study in Nepal, 57% of observations of foraging position involved mid-river rocks, 34% marginal rocks, 6% riparian ground and 3% shoals or marginal ground, with 75% of prey picked in aerial sally, 13% from shoals or mud, 10% from rocks and 1% from riparian ground or vegetation; main food small flies and midges (Chironomidae, Simuliidae), large dragonflies, butterflies and bees. In study in Taiwan, males foraged for 67% of the time in stream-surface habitats, although these constituted only 19% of total area available to them. Continuously opens and shuts tail scissorwise, and wags it up and down. Remains active into deep twilight.

Song, from large rock in mid-stream or in short aerial parabola from rock to rock, a shrill creaky insistent metallic jingle lasting 2 seconds, rising in pitch, like chirping cricket, “striiii-triiii-triiii-trííííh”, repeated 4–7 times; occasionally heard also in winter (in captivity given on moonlit nights). Call a sharp, strident ascending “ziet, ziet”, often combined with “tk tk” clicks.

Mar–Jun in Afghanistan, May–Aug in Pakistan, Apr–Aug in Kashmir, Feb–Jun in Nepal and Apr–Jul in China; Mar–Jul in SE Asia, Apr–May in Myanmar; double-brooded. Territory apparently 400–900 m along stream. Nest a neat deep cup of fine roots, grasses, leaves and green moss, lined with rootlets, fibres  , wool or hair, placed in hole in rock or bridge abutment, on fern-covered ledge, in side branch of tree, amid overhanging roots or under eaves of old mill, almost always near running water, occasionally up to 50 m away. Eggs 3–5, pale olive-white, greenish or stone with dense dingy yellowish, reddish-brown, umber and/or grey freckles. Rarely, parasitized by Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus).

Not globally threatened. Common in N Pakistan and India; fairly common to common in China; scarce to locally common in SE Asia. On main rivers in Nepal, one bird (predominantly male) found every 50–60 m or so in winter.