Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Redstart Red"start` (-st?rt`), n. [Red + start tail.] (Zo["o]l.) (a) A small, handsome European singing bird ({Phoenicurus phoenicurus}, formerly {Ruticilla phoenicurus}), allied to the nightingale; -- called also {redtail}, {brantail}, {fireflirt}, {firetail}. The black redstart is {Phoenicurus ochruros} (formerly {Phoenicurus tithys}), and is now rare and protected by law in England. The name is also applied to several other species of {Ruticilla} and allied genera, native of India. (b) An American fly-catching warbler ({Setophaga ruticilla}). The male is black, with large patches of orange-red on the sides, wings, and tail. The female is olive, with yellow patches. [1913 Webster +PJC]