Fauna
Bird

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Also known as Redstart Warbler

American redstarts are hyperactive warblers renowned for flashing bright orange or yellow patches in their wings and tails to startle hiding insects from tree foliage. Males display a striking coal-black plumage accented with vivid salmon-orange patches, while females and immature males sport muted olive-grey bodies with bright lemon-yellow highlights. During spring migration and breeding season, they maintain territories in moist deciduous woodlands across North America before migrating south to overwinter in Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America.

MigratorySongbirdInsectivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCaterpillars, Flies, Spiders
Predators
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk
  • Blue Jay
  • Eastern Chipmunk
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation on breeding grounds, deforestation in Neotropical wintering areas, and collisions with glass structures
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed woodlands, riparian forests, second-growth woods, and wintering tropical habitats
Life span5–10 years
  1. OrderPasseriformes
  2. FamilyParulidae
  3. GenusSetophaga
  4. SpeciesSetophaga ruticilla
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Field Glass Etiquette: Scan mid-canopy tree branches for rapid wing-flashing movements rather than waiting for sustained perching.
  • Acoustic Tracking: Listen for high-pitched, thin songs resembling a series of rapid 'tsee-tsee-tsee' notes in early summer.
  • Spring Timing: Visit open edges of damp deciduous woods during peak migration in May for optimal viewing opportunities.
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