American Redstart
Early on a hot, late September afternoon, several birds were coming to our backyard birdbath to drink and bathe. A young Eastern Bluebird, three Carolina Chickadees, two Tufted Titmice and a House Finch each came to take a turn, and I was watching as the latest chickadee dipped and splashed energetically in the water – when suddenly a flashy yellow and dark-gray bird appeared as if it had popped out of nowhere, fluttering like a large butterfly over the edge of the birdbath. An American Redstart!
This is a bird that often comes through here in spring or fall migration, but when I find one it’s almost always in the woods – not in our backyard birdbath only a few feet away from where I sat. This felt a little like seeing a colorful picture come to life. An American Redstart is a wood warbler, fairly common in woodlands across a large part of the U.S. Its high, sweet, delicate song can usually be heard in our woods during spring migration. The male is coal-black with bright patches of orange on its sides, wings and tail that it frequently flashes. The female is somewhat more subdued in color, with yellow patches instead of orange, a gray head and an olive back, and white on the underside – but to me, she looked more impressive in person – and in motion – than in any photos I’ve seen. Like the male, she moves in a showy, fluttery way, often flashing her tail and wings. It is thought they do this to stir up insect prey from among the foliage of trees.
The redstart didn’t stay to bathe at first. It fluttered around the rim uncertainly – then disappeared into some large yellow-green anise plants nearby. Twice it flew out of the plants to the birdbath again – where the chickadee was still splashing and dipping – then back into the shrubs.
Finally it came and sat on the rim of the birdbath – its bold yellow colors looking like a wild tropical flower that had unexpectedly bloomed there. It watched the chickadee for several moments, but the chickadee was in no hurry to leave. The redstart gradually worked its way all around the rim, taking a quick drink a couple of times. Then – perhaps finally running out of patience – it hopped into the water with the chickadee and began to dip and splash enthusiastically, and for several happy moments they both were splashing and dipping merrily, like old friends. After several lively moments, the chickadee flew away. And the redstart didn’t stay too much longer, it had been there long enough for what looked like a good bath. It flew toward the trees at the edge of the woods. Although I watched for another half hour at least, it did not return.