Wood-warblers (Parulidae)
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla. Flying and foliage insects, caught with tail-flashing sallies.
Wood-warblers (Parulidae)American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla
- Scientific name
- Setophaga ruticilla
- Length
- 4.3–5.1 in
- Weight
- 0.2–0.3 oz
- Nest
- Neat cup in a tree fork, 4–70 ft up
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 1–5 eggs
- Incubation
- 10–13 days
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
Identification
- Male black with flame-orange wing and tail patches
- Female grey-olive with yellow patches
- Constantly fans its tail
Voice
Series of thin, rising 'tsee' notes.
Diet and feeding
Flying and foliage insects, caught with tail-flashing sallies.
What do American redstarts eat? · Best feeder for American redstarts
American Redstarts by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Alaska | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Alberta | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Arkansas | Summer breeder | May–July |
| British Columbia | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Colorado | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Connecticut | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Delaware | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Florida | Winter visitor | — |
| Georgia | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Idaho | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Illinois | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Indiana | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Iowa | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Kansas | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Kentucky | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Louisiana | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Maine | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Manitoba | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Maryland | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Massachusetts | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Michigan | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Minnesota | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Mississippi | Summer breeder | April–July |
| Missouri | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Montana | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Nebraska | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Nevada | Summer breeder | May–July |
| New Brunswick | Summer breeder | June–July |
| New Hampshire | Summer breeder | June–July |
| New Jersey | Summer breeder | May–July |
| New York | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Summer breeder | June–July |
| North Carolina | Summer breeder | May–July |
| North Dakota | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Northwest Territories | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Nova Scotia | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Ohio | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Oklahoma | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Ontario | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Pennsylvania | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Prince Edward Island | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Quebec | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Rhode Island | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Saskatchewan | Summer breeder | June–July |
| South Carolina | Summer breeder | April–July |
| South Dakota | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Tennessee | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Texas | Winter visitor | — |
| Utah | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Vermont | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Virginia | Summer breeder | May–July |
| West Virginia | Summer breeder | May–July |
| Wisconsin | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Wyoming | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Yukon | Summer breeder | June–July |
Frequently asked
What do American redstarts eat?
Flying and foliage insects, caught with tail-flashing sallies. At feeders: none — mature deciduous trees are the draw.
How big is a American Redstart?
4.3–5.1 in long and 0.2–0.3 oz.
Do American redstarts use birdhouses?
No. Neat cup in a tree fork, 4–70 ft up.
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
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.