American Redstart has a partial preformative molt, and an absent to limited prealternate molt of body feathers that is usually difficult to detect. Although definitive cycle male American Redstarts have a distinctive plumage, there is a fair amount of overlap among other age/sex classes. In fall, checking for skull pneumatization is the most reliable way to ensure correct ageing. There are several other criteria that provide clues to age and sex, and in most cases a conclusion can be reached by considering multiple features.
Species account prepared by McGill Bird Observatory (2016). Last updated by Marcel Gahbauer (Mar 2022)
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FCJ - (HY: June - September) | ||||
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Brownish above and grayish below, with yellowish wing bars | ||||
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FCF - (HY: June - December; SY January - April) | ||||
Largely grayish brown above, uniform with the crown (F) or contrasting with a more gray crown (M); flanks with pale to moderate yellow (F) or yellow to orange (M) patches; primariy coverts slightly paler than greater coverts; rectrices brown with no to little yellow on r3 (F) or some to considerable yellow on r3 (M) | ||||
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FCU - (SY: January - August) | ||||
Largely grayish brown above, uniform with the crown (F) or contrasting with a more gray crown (M); flanks with pale to moderate yellow (F) or yellow to orange (M) patches; primariy coverts paler than greater coverts; rectrices brown with no to little yellow on r3 (F) or some to considerable yellow on r3 (M) | ||||
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DCB - (AHY: June - December; ASY January - April) | ||||
Largely grayish brown above, uniform with the crown (F) or largely black above (M); flanks with yellow (F) or salmon orange (M) patches; primary coverts similar to greater coverts in color and wear; rectrices brown with yellow patches on r3 to r6 (F) or blackish with large orange patches on r3 to r6 | ||||
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DCU - (ASY: January - August) | ||||
Largely grayish brown above, uniform with the crown (F) or largely black above (M); flanks with yellow (F) or salmon orange (M) patches; primary coverts similar to greater coverts in color and wear; rectrices brown with yellow patches on r3 to r6 (F) or blackish with large orange patches on r3 to r6 | ||||
No images available yet |
FPJ - (HY: June - August) | ||
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Similar to FCJ; some natal down remaining and/or juvenile flight feathers still growing in | ||
No images available yet | ||
FPF - (HY: June - September) | ||
Similar to FCF; median and greater coverts and greater alula being replaced | ||
No images available yet | ||
FPA - (HY: October - December; SY January - April) | ||
Similar to FCF; some head and body feathers being replaced, as well as up to three inner greater coverts | ||
No images available yet | ||
SPB - (SY: June - August) | ||
Flight feathers being replaced, with retained juvenile primaries, secondaries, and/or primary coverts distinctly pale brownish and very worn | ||
No images available yet | ||
DPB - (AHY: June - August) | ||
Flight feathers being replaced, with retained primaries, secondaries, and/or primary coverts either distinctly adult (relatively dark, less worn) or intermediate | ||
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DPA - (AHY: October - December; ASY January - April) | ||
Similar to DCB; some head and body feathers being replaced | ||
No images available yet |
Molt classes | Age | Months | Key traits |
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M-FPF / UPU (FPF, SPB, DPB) | U | June - September | Undergoing preformative or prebasic molt, but cycle is not reliably distinguishable |
M-FCF / UCU (FCF, SCB, DCB) | U/AHY | June - April | In formative or basic plumage (molt completed), but cycle is not reliably distinguishable |
M-FPA / UPA (FPA, DPA) | AHY | October - April | Undergoing prealternate molt, but cycle is not reliably distinguishable |
M-FCU / UCU (FCU, DCU) | AHY | January - August | In formative, basic, or alternate plumage (molt completed), but cycle and plumage are not reliably distinguishable |