Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, though in Europe, the breeding population is estimated to number 2,200-6,100 pairs, which equates to 4,500-12,100 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015), with Europe forming <5% of the global range. The population in China has been estimated at < c.1,000 wintering individuals (Brazil 2009).
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats. The European population trend is unknown (BirdLife International 2015).
This species breeds in alpine zones (above upper tree-line and dwarf-scrub zone) near permanent snows, in dry streambeds, boulder-strewn alpine meadows, stonefields and screes with some trees and herbs, flat parts of high passes and mountain gorges. It winters in rocky, scrubby hillsides near streams and riverbeds, rocky moraines, and thickets in valley bottoms. Breeding occurs in June and July in the Caucasus and Central Asia. The nest is a bulky cup of grass and wool, lined with animal hair and feathers and set well inside a crevice in cliff or deep under rocks, amid screes and often adjacent to moraine sediment and near the permanent snow-line. Clutches are three to five eggs. It feeds entirely on invertebrates, especially insects and spiders in the summer but in winter berries are the main food (Collar 2015). The species is mainly a short-distance altitudinal migrant (Snow and Perrins 1998).
In Europe, the main threat to this species is the loss of Hippophae rhamnoides as a result of building development (Collar 2015). In addition local people collect large amounts of berries for food, often removing whole twigs rather than just the berries, which damages the bushes (Tucker and Heath 1994).
Conservation Actions Underway
CMS Appendix II. Bern Convention Appendix II. There are currently no known conservation measures for this species within its European range.
Conservation Actions Proposed
The conservation of the species's wintering grounds and conservation of Hippophae rhamnoides bushes and berries is of the utmost importance, particularly in the upper Terek basin, where much of the population in the Caucasus winter (Tucker and Heath 1994, Collar 2015).
Text account compilers
Ekstrom, J., Ashpole, J, Butchart, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: White-winged Redstart Phoenicurus erythrogastrus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/white-winged-redstart-phoenicurus-erythrogastrus on 22/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/11/2024.