American Redstart
American Redstart Information
Length: 4.5 - 5.5"
Breeding Habitat: Open deciduous or mixed woodlands, forest edges, roadside trees, orchards, shrubby edges of streams and ponds, brushy edges of pastures, parks. Prefers moist, second-growth habitats with an understory of saplings.
Diet: Insects, including caterpillars, beetles, moths, leafhoppers, and flies; spiders; some wild fruits and berries.
Calls of the American Redstart
Additional Information
American RedstartRange, habitat, physical description, reproduction, lifespan, behavior, communication, food habits, predation, and conservation status. Includes photos. (From Animal Diversity Web)
Female American Redstart
By Reago & McClarren [CC 2.0]
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American Redstart
Identification Tips
- Small, insect-eating bird
- Thin, pointed bill
- Feeds very actively (even for a warbler)
- Often fans tail exposing red or yellow patches
- Orange-red sides of breast, wing and tail patches
- Belly and undertail coverts white
- Remainder of plumage black
- Yellow sides of breast, wing and tail patches
- White underparts
- Olive upperparts with grayer head
- Immature males begin to acquire adult male pattern in second year
(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)
Breeding Bird Survey Map,
2011-2015
(Image credit: USGS)
Range in New England
The American Redstart breeds throughout New England.
This warbler is not found in this region during the winter, except on very rare occasions. The eBird map below shows some of these sightings.
Winter Map from eBird
Sightings of the American Redstart from
Dec-Feb over past 10 years
(2009-2019)
Christmas Bird Count Map
Historical CBC Map from USGS