Bird Description

Fairly common but local in open areas, often where farmsteads, cattle, or water. Rare winter visitor to SE ; vagrant elsewhere. This s. stunner is unforgettable. Daintily sits on snags and fenceposts before darting to catch an insect. Often dips tail and spreads wings phoebe-like. ID: Small and flat-headed but often with a hint of a crest. Thin bill enhances gentle expression. Black tail, with narrow white border, often held flared. Ad ?: mind-blowing red with dark mask and upperparts. Ad ?: pale underparts with pale streaks and pinkish red vent. Juv: similar to ? but bolder streaks and pale fringes to upperparts. Imm ?: vent yellowish becoming adult-like in summer. Imm ?: similar to ad ? but molts new red feathers through winter and first summer. As adult by second winter.