Myioborus pictus
The Painted Whitestart (*Myioborus pictus*), a dazzling member of the New World Warbler family (Parulidae), is instantly recognizable by its striking pied plumage. Measuring approximately 12.5 to 14 cm (5 to 5.5 inches) in length with a wingspan of 19-21 cm, this active passerine sports a glossy black back, head, and breast, dramatically contrasted by a pure white belly, prominent white wing patches, and white outer tail feathers. A distinctive, fiery red patch on its flanks adds a brilliant ...
Primarily found in montane pine-oak and evergreen-oak woodlands, canyons, and sycamore-lined riparian areas, typically at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 meters (5,000 to 10,000 feet).
The diet of the Painted Whitestart consists almost exclusively of insects, including flies, beetles, wasps, ants, caterpillars, and spiders, captured primarily through aerial pursuit after being flushed by tail-fanning.
Painted Whitestarts are highly active, diurnal birds, constantly on the move while foraging, rarely pausing for long. Their primary foraging strategy involves frequent aerial sallies, chasing insects flushed from foliage by their characteristic tail-fanning and wing-flicking, though they also gle...
The Painted Whitestart has a breeding range primarily extending from the sky islands and montane regions of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico in the United States, south through the Sierra Madre Occidental and Oriental mountain ranges of Mexico, continuing into the highlands of Gua...
Least Concern
- The "whitestart" in its name refers to the prominent white patches on its tail feathers, visible when fanned. - Despite often being called "Painted Redstart" in North America, it belongs to the New World Warbler family (Parulidae) and is not closely related to the European Redstart. - Its disti...