Whilst birding Deffi Park in recent weeks it has become obvious a female Black Redstart Phoenicurus
ochruros is wintering in the park. The bird can be seen on every visit
feeding around on the ground under the trees. Black Redstart is an uncommon
migrant and winter visitor to most areas of Saudi Arabia. They are more common
winter in the mountainous Hejaz and Asir regions than elsewhere with most
records referring to Eastern Black Redstart Phoenicurus
ochruros phoenicuroides. As the bird is a female it is very difficult to
assign to race but is an interesting bird to see and study. In Riyadh they are
an uncommon migrant and winter visitor, passing between March and April, then
again October and November. Winter visitors encountered mainly December to
February, usually in ones and twos only. Both nominate and P. o. phoenicuroides
occur. In the Eastern Province it is a scarce but widely distributed winter visitor
from October to March where they are normally seen in well vegetated places
such as parks and gardens. Females are less common that males.
