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
Licensed referenceno rights reserved, uploaded by Adam Jackson · cc0
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Caterpillars
- Midges
- Spiders
Predators
- Domestic Cats
- Sharp-shinned Hawks
- Blue Jays
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, pesticide exposure, and window collisions
HabitatsDeciduous forests, riparian thickets, and second-growth woodlands
Life span5 to 10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyParulidae
- GenusSetophaga
- Speciessetophaga ruticilla
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- 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.
Frequent Companion "Black and White Warbler" by Mike's Birds is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Andrew C, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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