Painted Redstart

Quick Facts

Migratory
  • Scientific Name: Myioborus pictus
  • Spanish Name: Candelita aliblanca
  • Family: Parulidae
  • Known Nicknames: Painted Whitestart
  • Average Length: 13–15 cm / 5–6 in
  • Average Weight: 8–12 g / 0.28–0.42 oz
  • Wingspan: 20–23 cm / 8–9 in
  • Key Feature: Bright crimson belly and white wing patches contrasting with black upperparts
  • Primary Diet: Primarily Insectivore
  • Range: Southwestern United States to Nicaragua
  • Habitat: Pine-oak woodlands and mountain canyons with dense understory
  • Social Structure: Solitary or in pairs during breeding; loosely gregarious in winter
  • Nesting/Breeding: Cup nest on ground, often under a rock, log, or in a bank crevice
  • Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
  • Population Trend: Stable

The Painted Redstart (*Myioborus pictus*) is a striking songbird of the mountainous pine-oak forests from the southwestern United States down through Central America, renowned for its vivid, high-contrast plumage. Unlike the typical redstart, this bird is predominantly glossy black with a brilliant scarlet belly and lower breast, set off by bold white wing patches, white outer tail feathers, and a white crescent beneath each eye. Its most unique characteristic is its energetic, butterfly-like foraging behavior: it constantly fans its black-and-white tail and droops its wings to flush out insects, a technique called “flush-chasing” that makes it a lively and conspicuous presence in the understory. Additionally, it is the only redstart with a completely black head and throat, and its sharp, sweet song and distinctive habit of nesting in rock crevices rather than trees further set it apart from its relatives.

Faits amusants

The Painted Redstart has a quirky habit of fanning its tail open and closed like a black-and-white checkerboard while foraging, a behavior thought to startle insects into moving so it can snatch them mid-air. Its vivid scarlet belly and chest are not just for show—the bird uses these patches in aggressive displays to defend its territory from intruders. Unlike most warblers, it often nests on the ground in rocky crevices or under roots, and both parents will perform a dramatic “broken-wing” act to lure predators away from the eggs. It also has an unusually loud, musical song for its small size, which it delivers from exposed perches to broadcast its presence across canyon habitats.

Habitats et répartition

The Painted Redstart occupies high-elevation pine-oak forests and mixed coniferous woodlands, typically between 1,500 and 3,000 meters. It prefers steep, rocky slopes and canyons with a dense understory of shrubs and leaf litter, often near streams or seeps. Its geographical range extends from the southwestern United States (southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and west Texas) south through the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental of Mexico, reaching into northern Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador). It is a resident species in most of its range, though some northern populations may move to slightly lower elevations in winter.

Comportements & Reproduction

The Painted Redstart is typically monogamous during the breeding season, with pairs forming shortly after males arrive on breeding grounds and establish territories through song and visual displays. The male performs a distinctive "butterfly flight"—fluttering slowly with wings held high—to court the female, often while fanning his tail to flash the white outer feathers. Nest building is solely the female’s responsibility: she constructs a cup-shaped nest of grasses, bark, and spiderwebs, usually placed on a steep slope or bank, often concealed under overhanging rocks or in tree cavities. Clutches contain 3–5 eggs, which the female incubates alone for about 13–14 days, while the male provides food for her during this period. Both parents feed the altricial young, which fledge after 10–12 days, but the female may begin a second brood while the male continues caring for the first fledglings—a strategy that maximizes reproductive output in their short montane breeding season. Social structure outside breeding is solitary or in loose mixed-species flocks during migration and winter, with little territorial aggression once nesting ends.

Alimentation

The Painted Redstart is an insectivorous bird that forages actively by gleaning insects from foliage, bark, and branches, often performing quick, acrobatic movements to capture prey. Its diet consists primarily of small arthropods such as beetles, caterpillars, ants, wasps, flies, and spiders, which it picks from surfaces or occasionally catches in short aerial sallies. An interesting fact is that this species frequently fans its distinctive white-tipped tail while feeding, a behavior believed to flush hidden insects from leaves and bark, making them easier to spot and capture. Additionally, during the breeding season, it may consume small berries or seeds when insect availability is low, but animal matter remains the dominant component year-round.

Couleurs

The Painted Redstart is a striking black bird with a vivid crimson belly and lower breast, a white wing patch, and white outer tail feathers. Its most unique feature is a bold white crescent below each eye, contrasting sharply with its black face and head. It lacks camouflage adaptations, instead using its conspicuous colors and energetic wing and tail fanning to flush insects from cover.