American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
In Latin America, they are known as 'candelita' or 'little torch' because of their bright, flashing orange patches.
- Scientific name
- Setophaga ruticilla
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Parulidae › Setophaga
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous and mixed forests, often near water or in second-growth woodlands.
- Diet
- Mainly insects like flies, moths, and beetles; occasionally berries in late summer and winter.
- Range
- North America, Central America, Northern South America, Caribbean
- Size
- 11-13 cm length; 6-10 g weight
- Lifespan
- 2 to 5 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss in wintering grounds, window collisions during migration, and outdoor cat predation.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and shy. Best viewed through binoculars to avoid disturbing nesting or feeding. If you find a bird stunned by a window strike, place it in a ventilated box and contact a wildlife rehabilitator.
The American redstart ( Setophaga ruticilla ) is a New World warbler. It is unrelated to the Old World redstarts.
Photo: Jeremy Meyer, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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