Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 5.1–5.9 in
13–15 cm - Wingspan
- 8.3 in
21 cm - Weight
- 0.3–0.4 oz
8–11 g
Other Names
- Paruline à ailes blanches (French)
- Pavito aliblanco, Chipe ala blanca (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Like other "redstarts" in its genus, the Painted Redstart flashes its white wing patches and outer tail feathers when foraging. These action appear to flush insects that the redstart then pursues and captures.
- Despite its common name, the Painted Redstart is not particularly closely related to the American Redstart. Members of its genus, common in the Neotropics, are sometimes known as "whitestarts" to distinguish them. The name "redstart" was taken from a European thrush that has a bold reddish tail pattern.
Habitat
Forest
Riparian and arid woodlands, especially in mountains.
Food
Insects
Mostly insects; also some tree sap, as well as sugar water, peanut butter, and suet from feeders in winter.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 3–7 eggs
- Egg Description
- White with brown speckles, especially at the larger end.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless with sparse black down.
Nest Description
A cup of coarse grasses and pine needles, located on the ground, on slopes, or rock walls.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Foliage Gleaner
Gleans from leaves, trunks, and branches. Also hawks insects in the air. Actively fans its tail and wings to elicit movement by prey. Also turns body back and forth to flush insects.
Conservation
Least Concern
The Painted Redstart is considered to be a relatively low conservation priority.
Credits
- Barber, D. R., P. M. Barber, and P. G. Jablonski. 2000. Painted Redstart (Myioborus pictus). In The Birds of North America, No. 528 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.