384 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



Genus SETOPHAGA Hwainson. 

 SETOPHAGA RUTICTLLA (Linn.). 



■292. American Redstart. (GS7) 



M<d<-: — Lustrous blue-lilack; l)elly ami ciissum, white; sides of the hreast, 

 large spot at bases of the reniiges, and basal half of the tail feathers (except the 

 middle pair), tiery orange, belly often tinged with the same. Fcinali- :--V)\\\-a- 

 ceous. ashler on the head, entirely white below; wings and tail, l)lackish, with 

 the Hame color of the male represented by yellow. Yoinnj iiia/t: — Like the 

 female, but browner, the yellow of an orange liue. Fi-om the circumstance that 

 many spring males are shot in the general plumage of the female, but showing 

 irregular isolated black patches, it is prol)able that tlie species I'ecpiires at least 

 two years to gain its perfect plumage. Length, r^^, ; wing and tail, about 2^. 



H.VB. — North Amei-ica, north to Fort Simpson, west regularly to the (ii-eat 

 Basin, casually to the Pacific coast, breeding from the middle portion of the 

 United States northward. In winter, the West Indies, and from Soutlieru 

 Mexico through Central America to Northern South Ameiica. 



Nest, in the fork of a sapling, six to twenty feet from the ground, Lomposcd 

 of grape viae bark, grasses and weeds, and lined w itli tine grass, horsc-liair or 

 plant down. 



Eggs, four or five, gicenish or grayish-white, dottfil with blown. la\<ii(K'r 

 and puiple. 



The Redstart is oik^ of the mo.st active and restless little birds 

 found in the bush, where its glowing garb of black and orange shines 

 to great advantage among tlie fresh green leaves. It is generally 

 distributed throughout Ontario, and from its manners and markings 

 is well known to all who give any attention to the Inrds. Tn spring 

 it arrives from the lUth to the loth of May, tlie first to appear 

 being the adult male in full costume, after wliicli come the females 

 and young males in plumage nearly alike. While here, they are 

 not high-fliers, but like to disport themselves among the middle and 

 lower branches of deciduous trees, from which they dart off in pursuit 

 of passing insects, making the clicking of the bill distinctly heard. 



The male is so decided in his markings, that he is not likely to l>e 

 mistaken for any other species. The female is plainer, but has the 

 habit of opening and closing the tail featliers, which serves, e\en at 

 a distance, to indicate the s])ecies to which she belongs. 



After the end of August they are seldom seen. 



