Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
American Redstart
Paruline flamboyante
Setophaga ruticilla
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
Species: The American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is one of the more common warblers seen in North America. The very attractive male is quite active and seems to sing throughout the day. During the summer, it can be seen flittering from branch to branch, showing off the large orange areas on the side of its breast, its opened wings and flared tail feathers.
Distinctions: Sexually dimorphic, the male has large orange markings on its breast, wings and at the base of its tail feathers. It has a shiny black body with a white breast. Female has an olive-coloured body, grey head, yellow feathers on its wings, side of breast and at base of tail feathers. Juvenile is similar to female, with maybe a hint of black on the side of the breast and brown wings.
Voice: Loud songs consisting of up to five or six notes, constant singing throughout the day. Always moving from branch to branch and tree to tree.
Nesting: Up to five eggs, pale white to light greenish with brown specks, one to two broods per year. Nest is usually located in the crotch of a sapling or base of a tree. Prefers second growth forest with water nearby.
Life, Habitat and Pictures of the North American Warblers
| B L | W W | W | Family | Latin Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.25" 13.3cm | 7.75" 19.7cm | 0.4oz 11.3g | Parulidae | Setophaga ruticilla |
North American Birds Calls
- Click here to hear Choice 1
- Click here to hear Choice 2
- Summer
- Year Around
- Winter
Distribution: Found in second growth forests or open wooded areas. It is seen from Newfoundland and Labrador through the lower half of Quebec and north to James Bay. It is also seen across the prairies into the Northwest Territories and south into British Columbia as well as east along the northern states into the central regions of North America. It is also found south into Texas and east to the Atlantic coast and north into Nova Scotia.
References to Other Bird Sites:
Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.
ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.
I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.
