Watercolor portrait of American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla
Common 2 sounds

Learn to identify the American Redstart by ear. Master the "high variable whistled phrases" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“see-see-see, swee-swee!”

What the American Redstart sounds like

A quick string of high, thin notes that tumbles out from a treetop. Males repeat it over and over on breeding territory.

  • First-light chips into song: Soft high chips lead into short, changeable whistled song phrases. The clip moves from call-like notes into a full dawn song. “tsip-tsip... see-see-swee!”

How to tell it apart

Listen for: “high variable whistled phrases”

Where you'll hear it

It breeds across much of Canada and the eastern and central United States. It winters mainly from Mexico through Central America and the Caribbean into northern South America, with regular wintering birds in southern Florida and small numbers in southern California.

In breeding season, look in open deciduous woods, second growth, and willow or alder thickets, often near water. During migration and winter, it favors forest edges, mangroves, gardens, and shade coffee where insects stay active.

They surge north in spring, and males can seem to sing from every treetop in May and June. By late summer they grow quieter and slip south, but they stay lively on wintering grounds in tropical woods, mangroves, and even southern Florida.

How to recognize it by sight

This restless little warbler flashes through the trees like a spark. Adult males are jet black with bold orange patches, while females and young birds wear soft gray-olive with lemon-yellow instead. In the tropics it’s often called candelita or the “Christmas bird” because it shows up around the holiday season.

Similar species

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler is yellow below with a bold black necklace and back pattern, not black-and-orange like an adult male American Redstart.

Yellow Warbler

Yellow Warbler is mostly golden yellow overall, often with rusty breast streaks, and lacks the sharp black-and-orange or gray-and-yellow redstart pattern.

Painted Redstart

Painted Redstart has bold white wing patches and white outer tail feathers that flash strongly in flight.

American Redstart song FAQ

What does an American Redstart sound like?
A quick string of high, thin notes that tumbles out from a treetop. Males repeat it over and over on breeding territory. Listen for the "high variable whistled phrases" phrase.
How do I tell an American Redstart from a Magnolia Warbler?
Magnolia Warbler: Magnolia Warbler is yellow below with a bold black necklace and back pattern, not black-and-orange like an adult male American Redstart. When it fans its tail, look for white undertail coverts and a white band or white markings on a black-tipped tail—not orange or yellow tail patches.
When is the best time to hear an American Redstart?
They surge north in spring, and males can seem to sing from every treetop in May and June. By late summer they grow quieter and slip south, but they stay lively on wintering grounds in tropical woods, mangroves, and even southern Florida.