When do American redstarts arrive in Texas?
The American Redstart is a winter visitor in Texas — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
American Redstart timing in Texas
- Arrives
- Around November
- Leaves
- By February
- Status here
- Winter visitor
- Present roughly
- November–February
In Texas, American redstarts are a cold-season bird, arriving around November and heading back north to breed by February.
These windows are set by latitude: Texas 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 Texas. 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 November is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early November — the first American redstarts into Texas are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Through the winter, consistent food matters more than variety — birds map dependable stations into their daily routes and rely on them hardest during cold snaps.
What American redstarts eat while they're here
- Migrates to the tropics
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 Texas
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Texas-native plants are known to attract American redstarts:
Acorns and a huge insect load for foraging and nestling food.
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.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do American redstarts arrive in Texas?
American redstarts typically arrive in Texas around November. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do American redstarts leave Texas?
Most American redstarts have left Texas by February. They spend the breeding season farther north and return in the fall.
Do American redstarts stay in Texas all year?
No — in Texas the American Redstart is a winter visitor, present roughly November–February. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before American redstarts arrive in Texas?
Have feeders up and clean by early November — 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 — Texas
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- Texas Breeding Bird Atlas — Texas A&M
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.