Professor Martin Collinson has commented as follows, “…Finally got some DNA out of the Sheringham bird (December 2025, our ref EBR09). It was a right *****, unlike Spurn bird that gave its DNA up easily. Both of them however show DNA sequences that are identical or close to birds from west/central China and Tyva (Russia). Genetically divergent from western birds and consistent with pheonicuroides/murinus…” (Source: Norfolk Birds News WhatsApp Group, 27/03/2026)
On the above image, the small gap between the tips of P5 and P6 compared to the noticeably large gap between the tips of P6 and P7 (visible on both wings, despite the awkward posture) is indicative of ‘Eastern’ Black Redstart rather than a hybrid Black x Common Redstart.