American Redstart
American RedstartAmerican RedstartAmerican RedstartAmerican Redstart

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Silhouette: Dylan GE Gomes · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
473 Verified sightings at Great Smoky Mountains National Park From 2019 to 2026
34,402 Verified sightings across all 80 parks From 2019 to 2026
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the American Redstart

The American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is a New World warbler. It is only distantly related to the Old World (common) redstart, with both belonging to the order Passeriformes. The American redstart was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Motacilla ruticilla.

The genus name Setophaga is from Ancient Greek σής : sēs (genitive σητός : sētós) "moth", and φάγος : phágos "eater". The specific ruticilla is Neo-Latin for "redstart" from Latin rutilus, "red", and the diminutive -cilla.

In Ancient Greek the name was φοινίκουρος : phoiníkouros (from φοῖνιξ : phoĩnix- "red" and οὐρά : ourá "tail") "Redstart" refers to the male's red tail, "start" being an old word for tail. The American redstart is a smallish warbler. It measures 11 to 14 cm (4.3 to 5.5 in) in total length and has a wingspan of 16 to 23 cm (6.3 to 9.1 in). Its length is boosted by a relatively long tail and it is one of the lightest birds in its family. Weight is considerably less in winter than in summer. Males weigh an average of 8.6 g (0.30 oz) in summer but drop to 7.2 g (0.25 oz) in winter, while females drop even... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Northern Parula
LC

Northern Parula

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga americana

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Hooded Warbler
LC

Hooded Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga citrina

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Black-throated Green Warbler
LC

Black-throated Green Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga virens

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Yellow-throated Warbler
LC

Yellow-throated Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga dominica

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Pine Warbler
LC

Pine Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga pinus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Black-throated Blue Warbler
LC

Black-throated Blue Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga caerulescens

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Chestnut-sided Warbler
LC

Chestnut-sided Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga pensylvanica

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Blackburnian Warbler
LC

Blackburnian Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga fusca

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Northern Yellow Warbler

Northern Yellow Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga aestiva

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Palm Warbler
LC

Palm Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga palmarum

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Bay-breasted Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga castanea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park 🇯🇲 Jamaica
~80%
2 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
~70%
3 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~60%
4 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~50%
5 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~50%
6 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~50%
7 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~50%
8 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
9 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
10 Los Haitises National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~40%
11 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~40%
12 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
~40%
13 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
~40%
14 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~30%
15 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~30%
16 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
~30%
17 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~30%
18 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~20%
19 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
20 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
~20%
21 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~20%
22 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
23 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
24 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
25 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~20%
26 Main Ridge Forest Reserve 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
~20%
27 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
28 Canaima National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
~20%
29 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
30 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
31 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~10%
32 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
33 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
34 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
35 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~10%
36 Coiba National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
37 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
38 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
39 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
40 Chingaza National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
41 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
42 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
43 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
44 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
45 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
46 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
47 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
48 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
49 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
50 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
51 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
52 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
53 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
54 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
55 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
56 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
57 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
58 Puracé National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
59 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
60 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
61 Machalilla National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
62 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
<5%
63 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
64 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
65 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
66 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
67 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
68 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
69 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
70 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
71 Los Nevados National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
72 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
73 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
74 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
75 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
76 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
77 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
78 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
79 Cajas National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Insufficient data
80 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a American Redstart in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a American Redstart sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 473 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see American Redstart in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

September has the highest sighting rate for American Redstart in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in our monthly data.

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