A small bird with dark grey-blue back, reddish front and long tail that can be seen flitting across the top of mature heather or perched on a gorse bush giving a sharp tritting call. They nest amongst mature heather, gorse and other scrub where they feed on spiders and other invertebrates.

Local populations, disappeared due to loss of habitat and a run of severe winters, with the last definite records in its decline being from Walberswick in 1939. Since the first recent records in 1987 it has rapidly re-colonised many of the Sandlings heaths. This has been helped by a run of mild winters, which has aided their over-wintering survival, but their breeding success is indicative of the health of the open areas of heathland currently under management by members of the Sandlings Group.