Black Redstarts
Black Redstarts are rare in the UK. Here in Parco della Caffarella in Rome they are everywhere. They’re the equivalent of Robins in the UK.
![Black Redstart - Caffarella - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Caffarella-The-Hall-of-Einar-2-1.jpg)
They perch at the top of low plants and survey potential rivals, food and predators:
![Black Redstart - Caffarella - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Caffarella-The-Hall-of-Einar-7275-725x483.jpg)
This is my favourite photograph of one. The face is sharp and the wings are blurred with movement. Lovely:
![Black Redstart - Caffarella - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Caffarella-The-Hall-of-Einar-7276-725x483.jpg)
The ‘start’ in their name means tail. Their Italian name is Codirosso Spazzacamino, which sounds great in an Italian accent. Spazzacamino means chimney sweep. I can see why, with their ash-coloured plumage.
They are a delight to watch:
![Black Redstart - Caffarella - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)](https://www.thehallofeinar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Caffarella-The-Hall-of-Einar-7062-725x483.jpg)
There’s one feeding on insects on the broken reeds floating on the small river here:
The only thing which puzzles me though, is where are all the adult males? Here’s one I saw last time:
I’ll just have to come here again.