The common redstart crosses the Sahara and is known for its orange breast, blue-gray back, and white forehead patch.
Common redstarts breed across Europe and parts of western and central Asia. Most European birds migrate south in autumn, crossing the Mediterranean region and Sahara before wintering in the Sahel and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. They return north in spring to nest in woodland, parks, gardens, and rocky areas.
The adult male has a slate-blue back, black face, white forehead, and orange-red tail and breast. Females are browner and less strongly patterned. The constantly quivering orange tail is a useful clue when the bird is seen briefly.
The common redstart is not the same species as the black redstart, which has a darker overall appearance and often breeds in rocky or urban habitats. Neither should be confused with the American redstart, a completely different New World warbler.