European redstart

European redstart noun

1. See under redstart(def 1).

redstart [red-stahrt] noun

1. any of several small, Old World thrushes, usually with reddish-brown tails, especially Phoenicurus phoenicurus (European redstart).
2. any of several fly-catching, New World warblers, especially Setophaga ruticilla (American redstart), having black and white plumage with reddish-orange patches.

Origin of redstart 1560–70; red1 + obsolete start tail (Middle English start, stert tail, handle, Old English steort tail; akin to Old High German sterz, Old Norse stertr) British Dictionary definitions for european redstart redstart noun

1. any European songbird of the genus Phoenicurus, esp P. phoenicurus, in which the male has a black throat, orange-brown tail and breast, and grey back: family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc)
2. any North American warbler of the genus Setophaga, esp S. ruticilla

Word Origin for redstart Old English rēad red 1 + steort tail; compare German Rotsterz Word Origin and History for european redstart redstart n.

type of bird, 1560s, from red (adj.1) + start “tail,” from Old English steort. Cf. German Rotsterz.