Black Redstarts in Switzerland
When the Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is present in Switzerland, when it nests, and which native Switzerland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Switzerland
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- April–July
- Size
- 14.5 cm, 16 g
- Nest box
- Open-fronted box on buildings
When to expect black redstarts in Switzerland
The Black Redstart arrives in Switzerland in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Warm summers with thunderstorms.
Temperate-continental in the plateau, Alpine in the mountains.
Nesting in Switzerland
In Switzerland the Black Redstart usually nests April–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 Switzerland plants for black redstarts
Of the native plants we track for Switzerland, 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.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.
Windfalls sustain thrushes and Fieldfares into winter.
Catkin seed for Siskins and Redpolls; many caterpillars for tit broods.
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 Switzerland all year?
No. The Black Redstart is a summer visitor to Switzerland, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do black redstarts nest in Switzerland?
Typically April–July. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 12–16 days, with 2 per year.
Which native plants help black redstarts in Switzerland?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Bramble, Wild cherry, Crab apple, Silver birch are native to Switzerland 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 Switzerland
Sources
- Black Redstart — RSPB bird guide
- Black Redstart — BTO BirdFacts
- Swiss Breeding Bird Atlas — Swiss Ornithological Institute
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.