The Common Redstart is a passerine with brightly colored plumage. Males have reddish-orange coloring on their chest and belly, with a distinctive black “bib” on their throat and a white forehead. Females, on the other hand, have more subdued tones of brownish and gray. Both sexes have a red tail, from which their Italian name derives. They feed mainly on insects and spiders. As trans-Saharan migrants, they winter in Africa and return to Europe to nest, preferring open woodlands and gardens. They generally nest in natural or artificial cavities, laying 5–7 eggs.