Black redstart is one of my favorite birds. Some also winter in Denmark. Photo old male, Aarhus Harbour (JTL).

Black Redstjart can breed in many different places. Here it bred in a toolbox on a truck that was in use at the Port of Aarhus in 2019. When the truck made short trips, the Redstart just followed. It went well. The bird is sitting in the box opening, perhaps a large chick. Photo (JTL).

Population

In Denmark, the Redstart is a rare breeding bird in coastal areas and especially in harbor areas, but also at hardware stores, lumber stores and in factory areas. Rarely at farms, which is otherwise known in Southern Europe.

The Danish breeding population is estimated at 750-1000 pairs (DOF). 

Nestbox

We have very little experience with breeding Redstarts in nest boxes in Denmark, and for example do not know preferred hole sizes. I have made several models here, but have kept the box dimensions.

Most boxes have a slightly sloping roof.

Back 34 cm high.

Front 30 cm high.

Width x Depth 16-17 cm.

Minimum and maximum hole diameter 32 mm - 65 mm.

Roofing cardboard on the roof extends the life of the box.

I would recommend placing nest boxes at least 2.5 meters high and preferably so that the opening does not point to the west.

I have seen House Redstarts build their nests at a height of 1-8 meters. The nests have been placed between rubble and large stones as well as in cracks in and around buildings and on beams in a carpenter's workshop and in a ventilation duct.

Help us

It would be interesting to hear from people who want to make a box project for Black redstjart.