American Redstart

American Redstart is a small warbler. This amazing bird is also called "butterflies of the bird world". 

Image source: Google: https://ebird.org/home

Scientific name- Setophaga ruticilla 

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Family	Parulidae
Genus	Setophaga
Species	ruticilla

About-

American restart is also known as Candelita or little torch. They come in the category of least concern but their number is decreasing day by day. They are 11-14 cm in length. Their wingspan is 16-23 cm long. Their weight is less in winters ❄️ than in summers ☀️- 

In winters weight of Redstart:
males: 8.6 g      females: 8.7g

In summers weight of Redstart
males: 7.2g        females: 6.9 g

The oldest redstart lived for 10 years. 

Diet-

They usually feed on insects 🐛, beetles, caterpillars, moths, leafhoppers, aphids, flies, seeds, and berries.

Habitat-

They usually breed in open deciduous and mixed woodlands. 

Migration -

They migrate to the south from North America and in winters they migrate to Mexico, Central America, and Northern South America. 

Western breeders migrate at night, generally in the late spring and early fall 🍁. 

Identification -

Adult males are black with bright orange patches on the sides wings and tail.

Female and immature males are dull in color their head is grey, underparts are olive color, dark grey tail, and yellow patches.

Adult males are medium-sized warblers with a wide flat beak and a long tail. 

Nestling and Mating-

• Mostly they have only one partner, but some males have two partners at the same time.
• And both the females nesting in the same territory. 
• During courtship, males try to impress the females, males display females by fluffing plumage, raising crown feathers, spreading wings and tail, etc. 
• Males also sing different notes of the song to impress females. 
• The nest site is decided by the females. They usually make their nest on a tree, 4'-70' above the ground, but sometimes nests can be built on the ground.
• The nest is built by the females. Sometimes they also use old nests of other birds.
• Females lay 2-5 white color eggs with brown or grey patches. 
• The incubation lasts for 11-12 days. Both parents take care of their young one equally, they usually dived their chicks in half and take care of them. After 9 days of hatching the young birds leave the nest. 

Can American Redstart sing?

Yes, females start singing after 2-3 weeks of their birth and males usually sing during courtship.