Phoenicurus ochruros -- (Gmelin, 1774) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- PASSERIFORMES -- MUSCICAPIDAE Common names: Black Redstart; Rougequeue noir European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) At both European and EU27 scales this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Canary Is. (to ES); Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK) Vagrant: Faroe Islands (to DK); Iceland Population The European population is estimated at 5,760,000-10,000,000 pairs, which equates to 11,500,000-20,000,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 4,600,000-7,460,000 pairs, which equates to 9,200,000-14,900,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be increasing. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology This species is found in sparsely vegetated rocky areas, including stony slopes with xerophytic vegetation, crags and gullies in high river valleys and rocky mountain tops up to snow-line as well as villages, towns and cities. In Carpathians, it is mainly found on mountain slopes covered with juniper (Juniperus), scree and boulders. The breeding season runs from mid-April to mid-July in western Europe but can be up to two weeks later in eastern Europe. The nest is a loose cup of grass, moss, hair, wool and feathers, which is set in a crevice of a wall or rock, or in an earth bank, pile of stones or on the ground. Clutches are four to six eggs. The diet consists of invertebrates and berries. The species is resident, partially migrant, a vertical migrant and fully migrant (Collar 2005) in different parts of its range and the main wintering area for west Palearctic breeders is the Mediterranean basin (Snow and Perrins 1998). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas major breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas major non-breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable non-breeding Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands suitable breeding Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands suitable non-breeding Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major breeding Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major non-breeding Shrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable non-breeding Shrubland - Temperate suitable breeding Shrubland - Temperate suitable non-breeding Altitude max. 3700 m Occasional altitudinal limits Threats It is thought large scale redevelopment and regeneration of city centre sites is causing the loss of suitable breeding habitat for the species. In addition nest sites are vulnerable to accidental removal or disturbance as they also nest in railway-sidings, lorry parks and similar locations (Wildlife Trust 2013). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Residential & Housing & urban Timing Scope Severity Impact commercial areas Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact development Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation Conservation Conservation Actions Underway CMS Appendix II. Bern Convention Appendix II. The species is a 'Species of Conservation Concern' in the U.K. Biodiversity Action Plan and subject to several local species action plans. Conservation Actions Proposed Conservation measures should aim to maintain existing breeding populations and to establish population trends and its conservation status. Public awareness of the species should also be raised (Wildlife 2015). Bibliography Collar, N. 2005. Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/58496 on 30 March 2015). Snow, D.W. and Perrins, C.M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 2: Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Wildlife Trust 2015. Black redstart Species Action Plan [http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/urbanwt/ecorecord/ bap/html/redstart.htm] Map (see overleaf) .