PASSERES — MUSCICAPID.E — MUSCICAPA. Ill 



THE AMERICAN REDSTART. 



MUSCICAPA RUTICILLA. 



PLATE XXXI. FIG. 68 (Male). 



Muscicapa ruticilla, Lin. Black-headed Warbler, Pennant, Arct, Zool. Vol. 2, p. 398. 

 Yellow-tailed Warbler. Id. lb. Vol. 2, p. 406 (female). 



American Redstart, Wilson, Orn. Vol. 1, p. 103, pi. 6. fig. 6 (male). Id. lb. Vol. 5, p. 119, pi. 45, fig. 2 (young). 

 M. ruticilla. Audubon, folio, pi. 40; Orn. Biog. Vol. 1, p. 202. 



Selophaga id. Richardsoh, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 223. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 291, figure. 

 M. id. Audubon, Birds of Am. Vol. 1, p. 240, pi. 63 (male and female). Gikaud, Birds of Long island, p. 45. 



Characteristics. Black. Belly white : base of the primaries, and of the tail-feathers 

 (except the central pair) orange-red. Female, young and autumnal 

 male, greenish olive ; sides of the breast and base of the tail-feathers 

 yellow. Length, five inches. 



Description. First quill shorter than the fourth ; second and third longest, subequal. 

 Tail rounded. 



Color. Head, neck, breast and back black, with bright glossy blue reflexions. Tail with 

 a broad terminal band of black. Sides of the breast, lower wing-coverts, base of the prima- 

 ries, and of the tail-feathers (except the central pair) orange-red. In some individuals, I 

 have noticed these orange marks to approach a bright scarlet. Abdomen and lower tail- 

 coverts white. Bill brownish black. Female : Olive brown above ; white, tinged with yel- 

 low, beneath. Those parts which in the male are orange, in the female are yellow. Young 

 male, above greenish ; inside of the wings, and a band across the wings yellow. 



Length, 5-0-5--5. Alar extent, 6-0-6-5. 



This beautiful bird winters within the tropics, and is found during the summer throughout 

 the Union. It is even found extending its migrations as far north as the 62d parallel. It 

 arrives in Louisiana in the beginning of March, and reaches this State towards the end of 

 April. On its return southward, it leaves us in September. It is shy and solitary, avoiding 

 the haunts of man, and feeding on various insects and their larvae. 



The American Redstart differs so much in the brilliancy of its colors, and in some of the 

 characteristics of its congeners, that its place in the systems has been frequently changed. I 

 prefer retaining him in his present situation. 



