American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Passage migrant — spring and fallRare

The take

Constant motion, fanned tail, orange flashes — migration's showiest passerby.

How to ID it

  • Adult male is mostly black with bright orange patches on the sides, wings, and tail; females swap orange for yellow with a gray head.
  • Constantly fans its long, expressive tail, flashing the orange or yellow patches to startle insects.
  • Hyperactive insectivore that darts after flushed prey and grabs it in midair.

Field marks at a glance

Size
small
Head
black (male), gray (female)
Call
thin high see-see-see-sew

Where & when

Passage migrant — spring and fall

Learn more

Sources