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Redstart (American)


Setophaga ruticilla
Redstart (American)


They are found in southern Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland and south throughout the eastern part of the U.S. They winter in the southern part of their range through the Midwestern U.S.


They are located in deciduous forests and thickets.

Body Traits

They are black with patches of sandy, orange on their wings and tail.


Females are brown with yellow patches.


They eat insects that they catch right out of the air.



Females build an open cupped nest of grass and bark on a tree branch near the trunk of the tree. They sometimes use the old nest that another bird had left. The female lays 4 eggs that she warms (incubates) for 2 weeks.

Redstart (American)


Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Setophaga
Species: S. ruticilla

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Amsel, Sheri. "Redstart (American)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2021. May 17, 2021