Painted Redstart: The Warbler That Breaks the Rules

The useful part

Redstart (Myioborus pictus) is one of the Southwest's most striking songbirds. With its velvety black plumage, bright scarlet belly, bold white wing patches, and white markings around the eyes and tail, this small warbler looks almost as though it were painted by hand. Found in mountainous pine-oak and oak woodlands, particularly in the southwestern United States and Mexico, the Painted Redstart is a memorable sight for anyone lucky enough to encounter one.

How it works

• One of the most fascinating things about the Painted Redstart is the way it forages.
• Those sudden flashes of white can startle insects out of hiding, giving the redstart an opportunity to catch them.
• While many songbirds nest in trees or shrubs, Painted Redstarts typically build their nests on the ground.
• They favor protected spots in steep, shady mountain canyons, often near streams and beneath natu...