344 
The Redstart 
mating season begins to come over them. Then, follovving the general 
lines of the migration-routes by which they went south, they turn their 
wing-beats back toward the northern United States and Canada. 
Here are some of the dates when Redstarts have been known to 
reach different points along the Atlantic seaboard during their spring 
migration : Southern Florida, April 3 ; Atlanta, Georgia, April 6 ; Engle- 
wood, New Jersey, April 26; Portland, Connecticut, May 3; Durham,, 
New Hampshire, May 10; Nova Scotia, May 21. From this it would 
appear that it takes about six weeks for the birds to journey from south- 
ern Florida to their summer home in southern Canada.. 
Rmitet course they could make this trip much more 
quickly if it was necessary, but they follow the open-? 
ing of the spring and the consequent reappearance of insect-life. 
Somewhat similar facts have been recorded of the coming of the Red- 
starts that pass up the Mississippi Valley, as are indicated by the follow- 
ing data of the first appearance at different localities along the inland 
route: New Orleans, Louisiana, April 5; St. Louis, Missouri, April 
17 ; Oberlin, Ohio, April 27 ; Lake Forest, Illinois, May 3 ; Columbia 
Falls, Montana, May 20. 
As the Redstart is a beautiful, attractive, and exceedingly useful bird, 
it is perfectly apparent that the legislatures of the various States, as well 
as Congress, have been wise in enacting laws for their protection. In 
virtually every State where the bird is found the Audubon Law has 
been written on the statute books. No one should ever kill a Redstart. 
The Painted Redstart {Setop'haga picta) is a closely related species, 
w^hich is mainly Mexican in its habitat, but appears north of the Mexican 
border in southern Arizona and New Mexico. It has a gaudy beauty — 
lustrous black, with a large white patch on the wings, white edging on 
the tail, and the middle of the breast and abdomen rose-red. It occu- 
pies the valleys and canyons among the foot-hills of mountains, where a 
sparse growth of oaks seems to favor its habits. “Their' 
motions,” H. W. Henshaw writes of these birds, “are 
almost an exact reflection of those of the common Red- 
start, which they so much resemble in form.” 
Mr, Henshaw was unable to find the nest of this southwestern 
Redstart; but it is now known to be placed on the ground, usually con- 
cealed under some overhanging stone or stump amid shrubbery, and 
preferably in a stream-bank. The nests are made of finely shredded mate- 
rials and lined with hair. The eggs are white, dotted with reddish brown. 
Painted 
Redstart 
^ Classification and Distribution 
The Redstart belongs to the Order Passer es and Family Mniotiltid<F, Its 
scientific name is Sctophaga ruticilla. It breeds in the Northern States and in 
southern Canada east of the plains ; and winters in the West Indies and central 
America. 
This and other Educational Leaflets are for sale, at 5 cents each, by the National Association of 
Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City. Lists given on request. 
