White-capped Redstart
Phoenicurus leucocephalus
A bird of mountain streams, the White-capped Redstart is unmistakable. The male has a white crown, a blue-black head, back and throat, and a bright chestnut belly, rump and tail. The female is a plain greyish-brown with a chestnut tail.
Species Ecological Profile
Sourced from high-confidence eBird and regional field surveys
Fast-flowing mountain streams, rocky riverbeds, lake inlets and boulder-strewn shorelines, from mid elevations up into the high hills.
Insectivorous. Forages on aquatic insects, beetles, caddisflies, and water larvae. Darts in swift loops from wet rocks to snap insects off the water surface.
Resident. Moves between upper high-altitude streams in summer and descends to Naukuchiatal lake shorelines and streams during freezing winters.
April to July. Builds a compact cup nest of green moss, rootlets, and animal wool, tucked into rock crevices, earthen embankments, or under local footbridges.
Ubiquitous along the stream inlets and rocky margins of Naukuchiatal lake. The male is easily spotted constantly tail-fanning and bobbing on rocks.
Photographic Log
Visual field records captured in Naukuchiatal (Click to enlarge)
