The common redstart crosses the Sahara and winters in Africa after breeding in open woodland and gardens.
It breeds across Europe, western Asia, and parts of North Africa. Most European birds migrate south in autumn, crossing the Mediterranean region and Sahara before reaching wintering areas in sub-Saharan Africa. They return north in spring to establish territories and breed.
The common redstart is a small insect-eating passerine. Its orange-red tail constantly flicks and flashes, making it conspicuous even when the bird is partly hidden. The male has a grey crown, black face and throat, orange breast, and reddish tail; females are browner.
It is often confused with the black redstart, a close relative that is more associated with rocky landscapes, buildings, and higher elevations. Both species have reddish tails, but their plumage, habitats, and distributions differ.