American Redstart Population Analysis
American Redstart has edged up: up 21% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
About the American Redstart
The American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is a North American member of the Wood-Warblers (Parulidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the forest birds.
- Size
- 4.5–5.5 in long (11–14 cm) — a small, active songbird (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Woodlands and forest edges, including wooded suburbs and parks.
- Diet
- Insects and spiders gleaned from foliage and bark, with seeds and berries in season.
- Range
- Recorded on 1,706 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 43 states, most concentrated in the Appalachian Mountains.
- Family
- Parulidae · Forest birds
Notable American Redstart TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
No notable trend signals for American Redstart. See the full index history below.
American Redstart Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, American Redstart is projected to fall about 13% by 2030 — from 1.7 in 2025 to a central estimate of 1.4 (95% range 1.2–1.7). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±19.3%, with 20% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
Where the American Redstart Is Detected
BBS routes recording American Redstart, sized by most recent count.
American Redstart Population Trend by State
American Redstart Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
American Redstart Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 21% since 1968.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.