Painted Whitestart

Myioborus pictus

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesForestCup nestTiny · 10 g

What the Painted Whitestart sounds like

Sonogram of the Painted Whitestart: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Ana Rebeca Martinez Martinez · Call · Santa María Coatlán, San Pablo Coatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico · CC0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

The painted redstart is the largest species of Myioborus, 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). The sexes are the same in plumage, 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. The bill and legs are blackish. The juvenile painted redstart lacks the red belly and glossy black plumage of the adult. Voice: 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.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Painted Whitestart

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 10 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is April, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Painted Whitestart

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 6 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada.

About the Painted Whitestart

The painted redstart or painted whitestart is a species of New 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 have similar appearance. Unusually for warblers, females are known to be as proficient at singing as their male counterparts.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Painted Whitestart vs Slate-throated Whitestart · Painted Whitestart vs Spectacled Whitestart · Collared Whitestart vs Painted Whitestart

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