Setophaga ruticilla
The American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla, is a strikingly beautiful and highly active New World warbler belonging to the family Parulidae. Males are instantly recognizable with their glossy black plumage offset by brilliant flame-orange patches on their sides, wings, and tail, while females and immatures display a more muted greyish-olive upperparts with vibrant yellow instead of orange. Averaging 11-13 cm (4.3-5.1 in) in length, with a wingspan of 16-19 cm (6.3-7.5 in) and weighing around ...
Primarily inhabits deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests, particularly preferring areas with dense undergrowth, saplings, and shrubby successional habitats, often near water bodies. Typically found at low to mid-elevations.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming a wide variety of small insects and their larvae, including caterpillars, moths, flies, beetles, and spiders. Occasionally supplements its diet with small fruits and berries.
American Redstarts are highly active and diurnal, constantly on the move, making them a challenge to observe for long periods. Their primary foraging strategy involves aerial hawking, sallying out to catch insects in flight, but they also glean prey from foliage. A signature behavior is their uni...
The American Redstart breeds across a vast expanse of North America, extending from southeastern Alaska and much of Canada (including the Canadian Prairies, Boreal Forest, and Maritimes) southward through the Great Lakes region and throughout the eastern United States, primarily west to the Great...
Least Concern
- The American Redstart's 'tail-flashing' behavior, where it rapidly fans and closes its tail to expose bright patches, is thought to startle insects, making them easier to catch. - They are exceptionally agile flyers, capable of intricate aerial maneuvers to snatch insects mid-air, often describ...