In the cool mountain streams of Central and South Asia, this sharp-eyed dancer flits between stones and low branches with restless poise. It feeds on aquatic insects and tiny invertebrates, darting down to snatch prey from rushing water before flashing its white belly in quick, flicking displays. What makes it extraordinary is its role along these fragile waterways — by controlling insect populations and signaling the health of clean, fast-flowing streams, it serves as a living indicator of mountain ecosystems. A small spark along the river’s edge, yet a quiet sentinel of alpine waters.
White-bellied Redstart 👇
