American Redstart

American Redstart

Taxobox
name = American Redstart
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Parulidae
genus = "Setophaga"
genus_authority = Swainson, 1827
species = "S. ruticilla"
binomial = "Setophaga ruticilla"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)The American Redstart, "Setophaga ruticilla", is a New World warbler. They breed in North America, across southern Canada and the eastern USA.

These birds are migratory, wintering in Central America, the West Indies, and northern South America. They are very rare vagrants to western Europe.

This species is unrelated to the Old World redstarts. This species derives its name from the male's red tail, "start" being an old word for tail.

The American Redstart is 12 cm long and weighs 8.5 g. The breeding males are unmistakable, jet black above apart from large orange-red patches on their wings and tails. Their breast sides are also orange, with the rest of their underparts colored white.

In their other plumages, American Redstarts display green in their upperparts, along with black central tails and grey heads. The orange patches of the breeding males are replaced by yellow in the plumages of the females and young birds.

The breeding habitats of these birds are open woodlands or scrub. These habitats are often located near water. These birds nest in a low are of a bush, laying 2-5 eggs in a neat cup-shaped nest.

These birds feed on insects which are usually caught by flycatching. American Redstarts also have been known to catch their insect prey by gleaning it from leaves. This is a very active species. The tail is often held partly fanned out.

Their songs is a series of musical "see" notes. Their call is a soft "chip".

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* Curson, Quinn and Beadle,"New World Warblers" ISBN 0-7136-3932-6
* Stiles and Skutch, "A guide to the birds of Costa Rica’’ ISBN 0-8014-9600-4

External links

* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Redstart.html American Redstart Species Account] - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
* [http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i6870id.html American Redstart - "Setophaga ruticilla"] - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
* [http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/american_redstart_info.htm American Redstart Information and Photos] - South Dakota Birds and Birding


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • American redstart — noun flycatching warbler of eastern North America the male having bright orange on sides and wings and tail • Syn: ↑redstart, ↑Setophaga ruticilla • Hypernyms: ↑flycatching warbler * * * noun Usage: usually capitalized A : a fly catching warbler… …   Useful english dictionary

  • American redstart — gelsvauodegis krūminukas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Setophaga ruticilla angl. American redstart vok. Schnäpperwaldsänger, m rus. американская горихвостка, f; сетофага, f pranc. paruline flamboyante, f ryšiai:… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • American redstart — gelsvauodegiai krūminukai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Setophaga angl. American redstart vok. Schäpperwaldsänger, m rus. американская горихвостка, f; сетофага, f pranc. paruline flamboyante, f ryšiai: platesnis… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • American redstart. — See under redstart (def. 2). [1800 10, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

  • American redstart. — See under redstart (def. 2). [1800 10, Amer.] …   Useful english dictionary

  • redstart — [red′stärt΄] n. [ RED + obs. start < ME stert, tail < OE steort: see STARK NAKED ] ☆ 1. any of various wood warblers; esp. the American redstart ( Setophaga ruticilla), the male of which is black and orange above and white below 2. any of a …   English World dictionary

  • redstart — /red stahrt /, n. 1. any of several small, Old World thrushes, usually with reddish brown tails, esp. Phoenicurus phoenicurus (European redstart). 2. any of several fly catching, New World warblers, esp. Setophaga ruticilla (American redstart),… …   Universalium

  • Redstart — Red start ( st?rt ), n. [Red + start tail.] (Zo[ o]l.) (a) A small, handsome European singing bird ({Phoenicurus phoenicurus}, formerly {Ruticilla phoenicurus}), allied to the nightingale; called also {redtail}, {brantail}, {fireflirt},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • redstart — noun Etymology: red + obsolete start handle, tail Date: circa 1570 1. a small Old World songbird (Phoenicurus phoenicurus of the family Turdidae) with the male having a white brow, black throat, and chestnut breast and tail 2. an American warbler …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • redstart — noun 1》 a small songbird of the thrush family with a reddish tail. [Phoenicurus phoenicurus and other species.] 2》 an American warbler with red or orange markings. [Setophaga ruticilla and other species.] …   English new terms dictionary

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