When do American redstarts arrive in Missouri?
The American Redstart is a summer breeder in Missouri — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
American Redstart timing in Missouri
- Arrives
- Around April
- Leaves
- By August
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- May–July
- Present roughly
- April–August
In Missouri, American redstarts are present through the warm months, arriving around April and heading south again by August.
These windows are set by latitude: Missouri sits in the middle part of this species' range, so timing here tracks the continental average closely. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when American redstarts are expected in Missouri. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before April is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early April — the first American redstarts into Missouri are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around May, adults switch to protein-rich food for their young and visits to feeders become quick and purposeful. Expect the busiest activity at dawn.
What American redstarts eat while they're here
- Leafhoppers, caterpillars, flies and beetles
Fans its bright tail to flush insects. A common migrant at birdbaths in wooded yards.
Full American Redstart diet guide → · Best feeder for American redstarts →
Native plants that hold American redstarts in Missouri
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Missouri-native plants are known to attract American redstarts:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do American redstarts arrive in Missouri?
American redstarts typically arrive in Missouri around April, with nesting underway by May. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do American redstarts leave Missouri?
Most American redstarts have left Missouri by August. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do American redstarts stay in Missouri all year?
No — in Missouri the American Redstart is a summer breeder, present roughly April–August. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before American redstarts arrive in Missouri?
Have feeders up and clean by early April — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: leafhoppers, caterpillars, flies and beetles.
Sources
- American Redstart — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- American Redstart life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- American Redstart — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Missouri
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.