"Bird of the Month" Profiles:

American Redstart
(Setophaga ruticilla)

Length: 5 inches
Wingspan: 8 inches
Weight: 8 grams
Diet: Insects

This extremely widespread species is a late migrant, not reaching the southern states until mid-April, but some individuals reach their northern breeding locations by mid-May. American Redstarts seldom stop for more than a day during their spring migration.

Evidence from banded bird recoveries indicates the following migration trends: western breeding populations winter in Mexico, birds that breed in the central part of North America winter in Central America and western South America, and those that breed in the eastern states winter in northern South America and the Caribbean. Mature males show a tendency to winter farther north than females and young males.

(Birding content courtesy of Boreal Songbird Initiative & eNature)

The following shade-grown varieties of COFFEE FOR THE BIRDS™ help to preserve winter habitat for this species:

• Mexico
• Mexico Decaf
• Guatemala
• Guatemala VR
• Costa Rica