# American Redstart (*Setophaga ruticilla*) The American Redstart is a small, colorful bird with bright orange and black feathers. It loves to flit around trees and bushes, catching insects and singing cheerful songs. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 31 - **Habitat:** Forests ![American Redstart](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Setophaga_ruticilla_-Chiquimula%252C_Guatemala_-male-8-4c.jpg&width=800) Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Setophaga_ruticilla_-Chiquimula%252C_Guatemala_-male-8-4c.jpg) ## Appearance The American Redstart is a small, active warbler. Males are striking with glossy black plumage and vibrant orange patches on their wings, tail, and sides. Females and immatures are duller, featuring yellowish-gray bodies with bright yellow patches in the same locations. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Parulidae - **Genus:** Setophaga ## Interesting facts - Male redstarts sometimes have two mates at once, juggling two nests! - Redstarts often sing two different songs, one for territory and another for courtship! - Their scientific name, Setophaga, means 'moth-eater' in ancient Greek! - These tiny birds can fly thousands of miles from Canada to South America for winter! ## Special abilities - **Insect Flasher:** American Redstart can flash its vibrant tail and wing patches because this movement startles insects, making them easier to spot and catch. - **Mid-Air Mover:** American Redstart can perform quick aerial acrobatics because its agile body and strong wings allow it to snatch flying insects with precision. - **Leaf Jumper:** American Redstart can quickly hop and dart among leaves because its small size and nimble feet help it flush out hidden bugs. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 11-14 cm - **Wingspan:** 16-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.007-0.009 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-5 - **Incubation:** 10-13 days - **Migration Distance:** 4000 km ## Diet & Feeding Tiny insect-eaters that love catching bugs in the air or gleaning them off leaves. - **Primary Foods:** caterpillars, beetles, spiders, flies, moths - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — Eggs, nestlings, and adults are prey. - **Hunts:** Eastern Tent Caterpillar (*Malacosoma americanum*) — Active hunter of various insect larvae. - **Shelter:** [Sugar Maple](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sugar-maple) (*Acer saccharum*) — Nests are often built in forks of deciduous trees. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American Redstart? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is American Redstart? 11-14 cm ### What is American Redstart's wingspan? 16-20 cm ### How much does American Redstart weigh? 0.007-0.009 kg ### How long does American Redstart live? 2-5 years ### How fast can American Redstart move? 35 km/h ### What does American Redstart eat? Tiny insect-eaters that love catching bugs in the air or gleaning them off leaves. ### Where is American Redstart usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Charlestown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charlestown-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Colonial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colonial-park) — New Jersey, US · Park - [Compo–Owenoke Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/compo-owenoke-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Duke Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/duke-gardens) — New Jersey, US · Botanical Garden - [Elk Neck State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elk-neck-state-forest) — Maryland, US · Forest - [Grundy Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grundy-lake-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park [View all places to see American Redstart](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-redstart) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [American Redstart: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-redstart)