Species · GBIF taxon 2489985
Setophaga ruticilla
setophaga ruticillaAlso known as Redstart Warbler
American redstarts are hyperactive warblers that forage with a dramatic, butterfly-like flutter, constantly fanning their bright tails and spreading their wings to startle insects into flight. Males sport a striking jet-black plumage accented by vivid orange patches, while females and young males display a softer grey and yellow palette. These migratory songbirds breed in moist, deciduous forests across North America before traveling to Central and South America for the winter.
MigratoryInsectivorousVibrant
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- diet
- Flying insects, spiders, and small berries
- family
- Parulidae
- threats
- Habitat fragmentation, pesticide exposure, and window collisions
- life Span
- 5 to 10 years
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Spot the flutter: Scan the mid-canopy for sudden, erratic bursts of orange or yellow wing-flashes.
- Listen for the song: Follow their high-pitched, buzzy, and variable series of notes ending in a sharp wheeze.