Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros

The Black Red start - or "redfinish"/"red-end" since it is the rump and tail that are red - is native to much of south and central Eurasia, with several subspecies over its range. The photos above are of the male of the nominal subspecies, taken by Dr Harsha Vardhan Reddy.

The female Black Redstart is a paler grey-brown rather than charcoal or black.

More Black Redstarts in row above photographed by Dr Harsha Vardhan Reddy in France. Male above left, female above centre collecting food for young and juvenile above right.

The Eastern Black Redstart subspecies, P.o. phoenicuroides, of east Central Asia, has a pale reddish front and the west Central Asia/Indian subspecies P.o. rufiventris has a bright red front like a dark Common Redstart (links below.)