American Redstart: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Songbirds of the Americas · day 7 of 7

Five facts

1. It flicks its orange or yellow tail patches on and off to startle insects out of the undergrowth, then catches them.
2. Its English name means 'red tail': 'start' is an old word for tail, and the male's tail is splashed with orange-red.
3. It gets lighter in winter. Males average 8.6 g in summer but only 7.2 g in winter, and females lose even more.
4. In winter, the most brightly coloured males tend to hold the best spots, like damp mangroves. Duller males end up in dry scrub.
5. Young males can breed in their first year, but they still look like females, and fewer than half manage to raise a family.

The quiz

1. Why does the American redstart flash its colourful tail?

• To warn other birds of rain
• To startle insects out of hiding (correct)
• To cool down
• To signal it is about to migrate

Flashing the tail startles insects and chases them from the underbrush.

2. What does 'start' mean in the name 'redstart'?

• Beak
• Wing
• Song
• Tail (correct)

In old English, 'start' meant tail, so the name points to the male's red tail.

3. How does a male redstart's weight change in winter?

• It drops from about 8.6 g to 7.2 g (correct)
• It doubles
• It stays exactly the same
• It rises from 7.2 g to 8.6 g

Males average 8.6 g in summer and 7.2 g in winter.

4. In winter, which habitat do the top males usually occupy?

• Dry scrub forest
• Bare farm fields
• Moist mangroves (correct)
• Snowy mountain tops

The top males take the richest habitat, like wet mangroves, and the rest settle for dry scrub.

5. What is true of first-year male redstarts?

• They cannot breed at all
• They still look like females (correct)
• They are brighter than older males
• They do not migrate

They can breed but keep female-like plumage, and fewer than half succeed.

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