American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
American Redstart is a small songbird usually hidden within the upper branches and leaves of larger trees, unless in breeding season when different males are chasing each others.
- 🇫🇷 Paruline flamboyante
- 🇩🇪 Schnäpperwaldsänger
- 🇲🇽 Candelita norteña, Pavito migratorio
Characteristics
- Length: 16-18cm
- Weight: 10-15g
- Wingspan: 25-30cm
How to Identify
Male are easily recognizable with their intense orange patches within black feathers. More difficult to identify are females. Blueish grey head and a yellow spot on the side. Usually, I spot first a male as they are very active flying around. The female then can be spotted nearby.
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Where and When to Spot
American Redstart is a migratory bird. First individuals can be spotted in spring. They prefer tense vegetation of bushes and trees and once the leaves have grown, more difficult to spot. Watch out for males during breeding season as they are then very active, chasing each other. Females are usually not that far away but better hidden and less active.
Observations by Park and Season
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jardin Botanique de Montréal | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Michel-Chartrand | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies | x | - | - | - |
"-" indicates no observation. It may not necessarily mean though that the species is absent from the park during that season.