American Redstart
Common Name: American Redstart
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus:
Setophaga
Species:
Setophaga ruticilla
|
photo Steven Pitt |
Taxonomy/Description
The American
Redstart male is black with bright orange patches on wings and the
tail. The female is olive brown with yellow flash-patches on the
wings and tail. This warbler is 12-14 centimeters and weighs 9-11
grams.
Habitat/Diet
The American
Redstart can be found in moist deciduous woods with abundant shrubs.
Their primary food source is insects that they will find on trees.
They will also eat small berries and fruit in late summer.
Behavior/Reproduction
The American
Redstart is territorial in the summer breeding season. Mainly males
will fly around to proclaim their territorial boundaries. This
warbler is butterfly-like and is very active. The American Redstart
is active during the day. They are migratory and will winter in
Mexico, the West Indies to Brazil and northern Peru.
The American
Redstart is monogamous and males will attract females through song
and displays. The female lays once clutch per year that consists of
3-5 eggs. Females build the nest in a cup shape out of twigs, grass,
and bark and are glued together with spider silk. The females
incubate the eggs and the male will help with feeding of the young.
Where to see
them in WNY
A great place to
see American Redstarts is at Iroquois NWR on the Swallow Hollow
trail. Take the trail to the right. In the portion of flooded
woodland, you have a great chance of seeing an American Redstart.