Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
December 2010

The Rufous-backed Redstart breeds in central Asia from Lake Baikal to west Mongolia and western China. During the winter it migrates to areas from northern India, Afghanistan, Iran and the Middle East.

It feeds mainly on insects but includes fruit and seeds in its diet when dispersed in the winter.

The male has a rusty-red mantle and underparts with a broad white patch on the wings. The female, shown here, is grey-brown with rusty-red edging to the tail and whitish wing-bars.