Codirosso spazzacamino Phoenicurus ochruros

Lucky are those who see it!

Black plumage tending towards grey, dark breast and red tail that vibrates continuously: if you see an animal with these characteristics, it is very likely to be a male black redstart. The female – as is often the case with birds – is more discreet, brownish in colour, but just as lively. 
In its natural habitat, it nests on rocky walls, in any available hole, crack or crevice, but around here you can see it near stables, rural buildings and stone houses, where it uses every beam or crevice to build its nest, as if it were aware that the surrounding meadows and vegetable gardens will provide it with small insects to feed itself and its chicks.
Its song is cheerful and somewhat scratchy, consisting of trills and metallic whistles that resound especially at dawn and dusk: this is its way of marking its territory, attracting a mate or sounding the alarm when it senses danger. 
Oh, I almost forgot... they say that seeing one brings good luck.

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