| Painted redstart | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Parulidae |
| Genus: | Myioborus |
| Species: | M. pictus |
| Binomial name | |
| Myioborus pictus (Swainson, 1829) | |
 | |
| Range ofM. pictus Breeding range Year-round range | |
| Synonyms | |
Setophaga pictus | |
Thepainted redstart orpainted whitestart (Myioborus pictus) is a species ofNew World warbler found in mountainous areas across inland Central America. They are among the largest warblers, reaching the length of 6 inches (150 mm), tail included. Adult birds have glossy black plumage, with white strips on the wing and a bright red belly. Female and male birds havesimilar appearance. Female painted redstarts have a rare feature of being as good singers as the males.
When he first described the species in 1829, naturalistWilliam Swainson assigned it to the genusSetophaga — the same genus as that of theAmerican redstart — where it remained for nearly a century and a half, though one naturalist placed it in theOld World flycatcher genusMuscicapa during that time.[2] By the mid 1960s, researchers recommended that it be moved to its current genus,Myioborus, based on various similarities with the otherwhitestarts.[3][4] The painted redstart is thesister taxon to all the other species in the genusMyioborus.[5][6]
There are two subspecies, which differ only slightly in appearance:[7][8]
The painted redstart is the largest species ofMyioborus, measuring 5.1–5.9 in (13–15 cm) in length, 8.3 inches (21 cm) in wingspan and having a weight of 0.3–0.4 oz (8.5–11.3 g).[9]
The sexes are the same inplumage, though males average slightly larger than females. The adult is mostly black, with a bright red lower breast and belly, large white wing patches, white outer tail feathers and white crescents below its eyes. Thebill and legs are blackish.[7]
The juvenile painted redstart lacks the red belly and glossy black plumage of the adult. It is brownish-gray overall, with a paler belly and undertail coverts, and a pale cream or buff tinge to its wing patches.[7] The young have a deep yellow-orange mouth lining.[10]
Painted redstarts are unusual amongst birds, and especially amongst warblers, in that the female is capable of singing just as well as a male, and during spring courtship a pair will often bond by singing together.
Painted redstarts are common in open oak woodlands and canyons at heights between 1,500–2,500 m (4,900–8,200 ft) inCentral America andMexico,ranging as far north as theMadrean sky islands andMogollon Rim inArizona andNew Mexico andBig Bend National Park inTexas; they are thought to be wholly insectivorous.[11] During the summer and winter, these birds may venture as far south asNicaragua. In 2010, a painted redstart was found further north in California than had ever been recorded, inAuburn, CA, east of Sacramento.[12] In 2013, one was observed inBerkeley, CA.[13]
Their nesting is done on the ground, and they create their nests so that they will be hidden among rocks, roots, or tufts of grass on steeply sloping ground. Their nests are large and shallow, constructed of strips of bark, plant fibers, leaves, and grass. The female will lay 3 or 4 white to cream-colored eggs that are speckled with fine brown and reddish spots. Incubation lasts about 14 days, but other nesting details are largely unknown.
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