Madera Canyon Painted Redstart

This gorgeous and brilliantly colored Painted Redstart was another life-lister we saw in Madera Canyon, Arizona. Once again, we found the bird exactly where my son told us he would be, but I must say I was surprised to see a redstart at a hummingbird feeder!

According to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds website, the Painted Redstart is 'a warbler of surpassing beauty . . . a specialty of the borderlands of the American Southwest.

My husband, Tom, captured these images of the Painted Redstart peeking at us from the trees above.  It is impossible not to comment on how adorable this little bird is, although such sentimental lanquage seriously damages any credibility I may have had as a serious birder.  On the other hand, who could resist such a sweet looking little face? 

We were extremely lucky to see this little guy in the winter months.  We were very lucky to see him at all, actually!

According to Cornell Labs, Painted Redstarts do drink sugar water from hummingbird feeders in the winter.  They also eat at suet feeders, evidently.

  

Madera Canyon was a wonderland of spectacular birds, and this Painted Redstart was one of many life-listers we saw that day.  If you ever get a chance to visit the Tucson area, don't miss Madera Canyon!