The American Redstart is a small songbird that is found throughout much of North America. It is known for its colorful plumage and distinctive song. The male American Redstart has jet-black upperparts contrasting with orange on the sides and white wing patches, tail patches, and belly. The female is grayish-brown above with pale yellow patches on the wings and tail. The American Redstart’s song is easily recognizable and can help birdwatchers identify this species in the field. But what exactly does the American Redstart’s song sound like?
Description of the American Redstart’s Song
The American Redstart has a high-pitched, hurried song made up of slurred phrases that all sound similar. Each phrase is composed of buzzy, musical notes that rise and fall in pitch. The song has been described as similar to that of an American Robin but not as clear or melodious. Instead, the Redstart’s song is more hurried and jumbled together.
There are regional dialect differences in the American Redstart’s song across North America. In general, it can be described as a rapid series of 12-18 two-syllabled notes all strung together into a continuous song. The syllables have been phonetically translated as “see-see-see-see” or “seet-seet-seet-seet.” The bird sometimes ends its song with a higher-pitched flourish.
Purpose and Context of the Song
The American Redstart uses its song to communicate with other birds and to attract mates. It is one of the first migratory songbirds to return to northern breeding grounds each spring, arriving as early as March or April depending on latitude.
Upon arriving, the male American Redstart immediately stakes out a breeding territory and sings incessantly to declare ownership and attract females. His song can be heard throughout the late spring and summer across the wooded habitats of eastern and central North America.
The male Redstart uses a slightly softer, slower version of the song once he has attracted a mate. He may also use a whistled version while interacting with his mate or defending his territory. The female American Redstart is not known to sing.
Variations and Dialects
As mentioned previously, there are some subtle regional variations in the American Redstart’s song. West of the Rocky Mountains, the song has a more hurried, accelerated pace with a buzzier quality. In the southeastern U.S., the phrases are slightly slower with a more melodious, warbled tone.
Researchers analyzed songs from 14 different populations across North America. They found consistent differences based on region, though all dialects were identifiable as the American Redstart. This suggests there are genetic differences hardwired into regional populations, passed down through generations of birds.
Similar Species
The buzzy, hurried song of the American Redstart can be confused with the songs of several other birds that occupy the same types of habitat. Here are a few key species with similar vocalizations:
– Common Yellowthroat – It has a more varied, complex song made up of distinctive wheezy notes. Each phrase ends in a rising pitch.
– Black-and-white Warbler – Its song is very high-pitched and thin sounding, often described as a squeaky wheel. The song lacks the hurried, buzzy quality of the Redstart.
– Worm-eating Warbler – It repeats single, buzzy notes in a steady series. The song lacks the slurred, hurried phrases of the Redstart.
– Ovenbird – It sings a loud “teacher-teacher-teacher” song that carries across the forest. The tone and phrasing are very different from a Redstart.
How to Identify the Song
The best way to learn the American Redstart’s song is to listen to recordings for comparison. Focus on the hurried, slurred phrases, rising and falling pitch, and buzzy tone. With practice, you can learn to distinguish the Redstart’s song from other birds.
Here are some tips for identifying the American Redstart by sound:
- Listen for a series of 12 or more phrases that sound hurried or run together.
- Note the buzzy, somewhat nasal quality and pitch that rises and falls.
- Pay attention to the ending, which may have a higher flourish.
- Contrast against other wood-warblers like the Common Yellowthroat which has distinct, separated phrases.
- Remember the song is high-pitched and insect-like, not melodious.
With these cues, experienced birders can recognize the American Redstart’s distinctive song even before seeing the bird. However, it is still challenging for beginners to distinguish from similar species.
When and Where to Listen
To hear the American Redstart’s song, listen in brushy, second-growth forests across eastern and central North America. Redstarts favor habitat edges near streams or wetlands.
The best time of year to detect the Redstart’s song is during spring and early summer when males are singing persistently to attract mates. In northern areas, listen for them from mid-May through July. Further south they may start singing as early as late March.
Early morning is often the most active time for singing, especially just after sunrise when males vigorously defend territories. However, Redstarts may sing throughout the day. Patience and careful listening are required to pick out the characteristic song.
Recording and Sonograms
Here are links to sample recordings of the American Redstart’s song so you can listen to the vocalization:
[Link to example audio]
And here is a sonogram image that visualizes the song’s structure, tempo, and pitch:
The sonogram shows the hurried series of phrases, two-part structure of each phrase, and the rising and falling pitch changes. This visualization can help birders memorize the song’s unique characteristics.
Conclusion
The American Redstart announces its presence with a fast-paced, buzzy song made up of slurred phrases rising and falling in pitch. Regional dialects vary slightly in tempo and tone, but all have a hurried, jumbled character distinct from other songbirds. Learning this species’ song is rewarding for birdwatchers, as it allows identification by sound alone. With practice listening to recordings and an awareness of habitat, anyone can learn to recognize the unique vocalizations of the American Redstart. Just listen for the hurried “seet-seet-seet” sounds ringing through the woods on spring mornings!
