Phoenicurus alaschanicus

Helanshan Redstart, also known as Ala Shan Redstart, is a medium-sized redstart.

Helanshan Redstart is very similar to the Red-backed Redstart (Phoenicurus erythronotus). Vauri (1959), Etchecopar et al. (1983) and de Schauensce (1984) believed that it was or may be a subspecies of the red-backed redstart, but there are still differences between the two. Qian Yanwen et al. (1965) recorded that the two species overlapped in distribution in Kashgar, Xinjiang, and both had breeding records, so this species should not be regarded as a subspecies of the red-backed redstart, but should be regarded as two different independent species.

Zheng Zuoxin (1995) regarded both species as independent species based on their morphological differences. Until 2006, Lei Fumin et al. temporarily treated them as independent species because the evidence for this view was insufficient. Zheng Guangmei (2011) recognized this view and regarded this species as a monotypic species.

Helan Mountain Redstarts often move alone or in pairs. In winter, they spend the night in dense seabuckthorn bushes to avoid the cold. Their food mainly consists of insects and a small amount of plant seeds. In winter, they mainly eat plant-based food (Liu Huanjin, 1986); animal-based food increases during the breeding season. They are resident birds.

Helan Mountain Redstarts usually fly to areas with seabuckthorn and use their beaks to peck at seabuckthorn berries and seeds inside the berries. Because the male bird's feather color is similar to that of seabuckthorn berries, the male bird often stands at the top of the seabuckthorn where the berries are dense and pecks, making "tata" or "ta" sounds while pecking. Sometimes they raise their heads and lift their tails to look around, and sometimes they make short leaps of 2-5 meters at the top of the tree. When they find a human figure while pecking, they quickly hide under the bushes. The female bird's protective color is not as good as the male bird, so it often moves in the middle layer of sea buckthorn when foraging, and sometimes makes a single low "tata" sound.

The main natural enemies of the Helan Mountain Redstart are sparrowhawks and white-tailed harriers. Once the natural enemy is found, the male bird quickly makes a "ta-ji" warning call, then hides in the bushes, stops singing, or quickly flies away from the scene. Sometimes, sparrowhawks are seen swooping down from a distance at the Helan Mountain Redstart, and each quickly hides in the bushes and stays motionless.

The chasing activities of the Helan Mountain Redstart are often seen between individuals of the same species, and the chasing distance is generally 17-35 meters. The chasing speed is very fast, and the "shua shua" sound of the wings rubbing against the air is made when flying fast. Most of the chasing individuals are male birds, usually caused by competing for feeding areas. Sometimes red-bellied redstarts are also seen chasing them.

In winter, the earliest starts at 16:00, and most of them are after 16:30. First, they fly from the foraging area to the home area. Some stop at the tip of the sea buckthorn and sing, and some stand on the side branches to spread their wings and legs, lower their heads and curl their tails. Some fly to the stream before returning to their home, and drink water in the water source area where the bushes are dense. As night falls, most of the Helan Mountain redstarts fly to the dense sea buckthorn bushes in the sunny and sheltered places, and perch on the side branches about 0.5 meters above the ground.

The breeding season of the Helan Mountain redstart generally begins in mid-March. Usually, the male bird sings more and more. When it finds a female bird, it shows various postures, approaches the female bird, and sometimes chases the female bird in the bushes. In early April, a few pairs are occasionally seen. Sometimes, male and female birds fly to the stream to drink water together, and peck at the same sea buckthorn without expelling each other.

On April 1, 2002, the Chinese State Post Department issued the "Helan Mountain Redstart" in the "Chinese Birds" stamp.

The Helan Mountain Redstart has a beautiful voice and can be seen in the wild. It pecks a lot of insects while feeding its chicks, which is beneficial to agriculture and animal husbandry.

Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016 ver 3.1 - Near Threatened (NT).

Listed in the List of Terrestrial Wildlife with Important Economic and Scientific Research Value under State Protection (Item 445) issued by the State Forestry Administration of China on August 1, 2000.

Listed in the second level of China's National Key Protected Wildlife List (February 5, 2021).

Protect wild animals and stop eating game.

Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!

Distributed in Inner Mongolia, China (Helan Mountain in Alxa Left Banner, Alxa League), Xining, Tianjun and Qaidam Basin in Qinghai, Helan Mountain in Ningxia and eastern Gansu. Winters in southern Shaanxi, the border of Hebei and Shanxi, and occasionally in Tong County, Beijing.
Helan Mountain Redstart often moves among dense shrubs and rocks, or is found in clearings of tall pine and cypress forests. Inhabits shrub grasslands, sparse woodlands, forest edges, clearings between forests or forest traces after logging.

Chest auburn. The iris is not brown; the mouth, tarsometatarsus, toes, etc. are all black.
Male adult bird: The top of the head, the upper back and the sides of the head are all grey-blue, with white eye circles, back and waist. The upper tail coverts, throat, chest and flanks are all brown, and the center of the abdomen is slightly lighter brown; the flight feathers are dark brown, and the wings are like a red-backed redstart. The red-backed redstart (Phoenicurus erythronotus) has large white wing spots; the tail feathers are brown, The central pair of tail feathers are dark brown and almost black, and the outermost pair of tail feathers have light brown edges at the distal ends.
Female adult bird: the upper body, head side, neck and wings are all brown; the outer edges of the secondary and tertiary flight feathers are white, and the white wing spots are not very obvious; the upper tail coverts are light brown; the tail feathers are like those of male birds, but Slightly light b