Fun fact: do you know the national bird of Morocco ?

The national bird of Morocco is the Moussier's redstart (Phoenicurus moussieri). This small, colourful bird is native to North Africa and is known for its striking appearance, with a black head, white eyebrows, and a bright orange-red belly. It’s often found in mountainous and rocky areas, making it a fitting symbol for the diverse and vibrant landscapes of Morocco.

For Morocco, the Moussier's redstart has not been formally declared the national bird through legislation, but it is widely recognized as a symbol due to its endemic status—it’s found almost exclusively in the region of North Africa. Its unique appearance and its presence in Morocco’s diverse landscapes make it a fitting representation of the country’s natural beauty.

For my part, I saw these beauties few times, and caught the pictures of this pair (left male, and to the right female) in Atlas Mountains, on the road somewhere between Majjat and Amizmiz.

For all curious people out there, in French, this bird is called ‘Rougequeue de Moussier’, in Arabic Dhubbab Akil Moussier (written ذباب آكل موسيير) and in Berber (Tamazight), Abkikh n Moussier (written ⴰⴱⴾⵉⵅ ⵏ ⵎⵓⵙⵉⵢⴻⵔ).