676 BULLETIN 203, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



though occasionally males in full plumage were observed. As always, 

 these birds were very active, searching through the limbs for insects, 

 and expertly catching insects on the wing. On El Yunque, in the 

 dense forests, they were seen up to 1,500 feet altitude, and elsewhere 

 in more open locations were found in the highest elevations. Next to 

 the parula warbler this is the most common of the wintering warblers." 

 In Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Wetmore and Swales (1931) 

 found that "the redstart frequents shrubbery, groves and forests, where 

 it is a most active flycatcher, pursuing its living prey with dash and 

 vigor among the branches with much display of its brilliantly marked, 

 fan-shaped tail. It ranges from coastal thickets to the summits of the 

 mountains." 



Todd and Carriker (1922) , in their account of the birds of the Santa 

 Marta region of Colombia, state that the redstart is "an abundant bird 

 during the winter months in the mountains, but much rarer in the low- 

 lands. Its habits are practically the same as in the north, except that 

 it does not sing. Simon speaks of finding it in the densest forest in 

 the tops of the highest trees, where it is hard to see." The earliest fall 

 arrival date reported by the authors was August 24, 1898, and the latest 

 spring date May 1, 1913. 



Dr. A. F. Skutch has written us an account of the redstart as he 

 found it wintering in Central America as follows : "First appearing 

 in Central America in mid- August, the redstart spreads rapidly over 

 the lower portions of the whole great isthmus. Although during its 

 periods of migratory flight it is at times met in the highlands, even 

 up to an altitude of 8,000 feet, like the majority of the warblers that 

 breed in the Austral region of North America it prefers the warmth of 

 the lowlands. Once it has settled down in its winter home, it is only 

 rarely found as high as 5,000 feet. At lower altitudes, it is a fairly 

 common winter resident throughout the length and breadth of Central 

 America. Although not rare on the Pacific side, it is more numerous 

 in the Caribbean lowlands. In the northern lowlands of Honduras 

 and Guatemala, it is very much in evidence during the winter months, 

 and may be expected wherever it can find trees in which to forage. 

 Incessantly active, it retains in the Tropics the same sprightly ways 

 that make it a favorite of northern bird-lovers, and as it weaves skill- 

 fully through the boughs of the trees in pursuit of insects on the wing, 

 conspicuously displays the bright orange or yellow areas on its sides, 

 wings and tail. Like nearly all of the warblers that winter in the 

 lowlands, it is quite solitary during its sojourn in Central America, 

 never associating with others of its own kind. I have not heard it 

 sing while in the Tropics. 



"Like the black-and-white warbler, the redstart begins to withdraw 

 from Central America considerably earlier than many other of the 



