American Redstart

The American redstart, Setophaga ruticilla, is a small and sprightly warbler, known for its vivid plumage and dynamic foraging techniques. Males in breeding attire are particularly striking with their jet black upperparts contrasted by brilliant orange-red patches on their wings and tails, and a splash of the same fiery hue on their breast sides. Females and young birds, while less flamboyant, are nonetheless charming with their yellow patches replacing the male's orange, and a more subdued palette of green upperparts and grey heads.

Identification Tips

When identifying the American redstart, look for the following characteristics: a relatively long tail, a wingspan ranging from 16 to 23 cm, and a small stature measuring 11 to 14 cm in length. The breeding male's black and orange-red coloration is unmistakable, while females and juveniles display yellow where males show orange. The species' song is a series of musical "see" notes, and their call is a soft "chip."

Habitat

During the breeding season, the American redstart favors open-canopy deciduous forests, second growth, and forest edges. It is often found in mid to lower regions of trees or shrubs, actively foraging for insects.

Distribution

The American redstart breeds across southern Canada and the eastern United States. It is a migratory bird, wintering in Central America, the West Indies, and northern South America. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe.

Behaviour

This warbler is known for its energetic behavior, often seen with its tail partly fanned out as it darts about in pursuit of insect prey. The redstart is also noted for startling insects from the underbrush by flashing its colorful tail.

Song & Calls

The American redstart's song consists of a series of musical "see" notes, while its call is characterized as a soft "chip."

Breeding

The redstart nests in the lower parts of bushes, with the female incubating a clutch of 2-5 eggs. Young fledge after 9 days and may remain with a parent for up to 3 weeks. The species displays a mixed mating strategy, with some males being polygynous.

Diet and Feeding

Primarily insectivorous, the American redstart employs flycatching techniques and also gleans insects from leaves. Its diet includes caterpillars, moths, flies, leafhoppers, wasps, beetles, aphids, and spiders, with occasional consumption of berries and seeds.

Conservation status

The American redstart is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection throughout its range, including the promotion of shade-grown coffee plantations as a compromise between agriculture and natural habitat preservation.