Black Redstarts in Portugal
When the Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is present in Portugal, when it nests, and which native Portugal plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Portugal
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- March–July
- Size
- 14.5 cm, 16 g
- Nest box
- Open-fronted box on buildings
When to expect black redstarts in Portugal
The Black Redstart lives in Portugal all year round. Mild, wet winters that attract many wintering European songbirds.
Mediterranean with strong Atlantic influence, wetter in the north.
Nesting in Portugal
In Portugal the Black Redstart usually nests March–July. Nest site: crevice on buildings. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 12–16 days; chicks fledge after 12–19 days, and pairs raise 2 per year.
- Nest box: Open-fronted box on buildings. Put boxes up by February and clean them out between September and January.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Portugal plants for black redstarts
Of the native plants we track for Portugal, these 8 provide food the Black Redstart uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Berries and nest sites in its tangles; moths for insect-eaters.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.
Windfalls sustain thrushes and Fieldfares into winter.
Feeding in the garden
Insects.
- Best foods: Mealworms.
- Rarely uses feeders.
- In Britain a rare breeder on brownfield and city rooftops.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are black redstarts in Portugal all year?
Yes — the Black Redstart is resident in Portugal all year.
When do black redstarts nest in Portugal?
Typically March–July. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 12–16 days, with 2 per year.
Which native plants help black redstarts in Portugal?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Wild cherry, Crab apple are native to Portugal and provide food or cover the Black Redstart uses.
What nest box does the Black Redstart use?
Open-fronted box on buildings.
Black Redstarts in other countries
Other garden birds in Portugal
Sources
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.