American Redstart

Appearance:

Length: 4.3-5.1 in
Weight: 0.2-0.3 oz
Wingspan: 6.3-7.5 in

Adult male American Redstarts are mostly black with bright orange patches on the sides, wings, and tail. The belly is white. Females and immature males replace the orange with yellow or yellow-orange. They have gray heads and underparts, with olive back and wings and dark-gray tails.

Habitat:

In the breeding season, found in deciduous woods, especially riverine systems. During migration, found in woodlands.

Behavior:

American Redstarts are incredibly active insectivores that seem never to stand still. They rapidly spread their cocked tails, exposing the orange or yellow in a quick flash, which often startles insect prey into flushing, whereupon the redstart darts after it, attempting to catch it in the air.