Black Redstart song and calls

Birdsong and calls are often the easiest way to identify the Black Redstart, especially when the bird is hidden in dense foliage. Below is what to listen for.

Song

The song is distinctive and rather scratchy or 'creaky', often described as 'squeaky gate' or 'crushing gravel'. It includes a mix of short, wheezy, and scratching notes, often interspersed with musical whistles and sometimes mimicking other birds. The most characteristic part is a short, dry, crackling or rattling phrase, sometimes described as 'tectec-twee-tee-techecheche'.

Calls

The most common call is a sharp, often repeated 'tic' or 'tack', sometimes drawn out into a 'tsip'. When alarmed, it gives a sharper, more urgent 'chitt-itt-itt' or 'tuck-itt-itt'.

When they vocalize

Males sing from prominent perches in their territory, usually from early morning to late evening, and particularly intensified during the breeding season (March to July). Calls are given year-round.

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