Despite its common name, the Painted Redstart is not closely related to the familiar American Redstart, which shares the genus Setophaga with many other North American warblers including the Hooded, Cerulean, Cape May, and Kirtland's Warblers. In fact, some world bird authorities call this southwestern bird the Painted Whitestart, a reference to its relation to other species found well to the south. (This is also a fitting moniker because, although this bird has a red belly, it flashes a lot of white.)
The Painted Redstart is the only U.S.-breeding member of the genus Myioborus -- meaning "fly glutton" in Greek. Unlike the American Redstart, both the female and male have equally resplendent coloration. How does this gaudy "fly glutton" use its eye-catching colors to procure prey?
Read on to find out more: abcbirds.org/bird/painted-red...