Bird field guide · New World Warblers

Photographing the American Redstart

How to photograph the American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (May).

11–15 cm1/3200–1/4000 s

11–15 cm

Typical length (family range)

1/1000 s

Shutter: perched / still

1/3200–1/4000 s

Shutter: action / flight

f/5.6–f/8

Aperture

50,421

Research-grade sightings in N. America

Recommended camera settings#

ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float

Shutter (still)1/1000 s

Shutter (action)1/3200–1/4000 s

Aperturef/5.6–f/8

FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionUse a small flexible zone or animal-eye AF; tiny birds flit constantly, so shoot short bursts.

DriveHigh-speed burst

Lens400–600 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 13 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally. Small birds demand long lenses and a close approach — a blind or feeder setup helps.

Distance	⅓ of frame (FF)	½ of frame (FF)	⅓ of frame (APS-C)	⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)	419 mm	608 mm	279 mm	209 mm
10 m (33 ft)	837 mm	1,216 mm	558 mm	419 mm
15 m (49 ft)	1,256 mm	1,824 mm	837 mm	628 mm
20 m (66 ft)	1,675 mm	2,432 mm	1,116 mm	837 mm
30 m (98 ft)	2,512 mm	3,649 mm	1,675 mm	1,256 mm
50 m (164 ft)	4,187 mm	6,081 mm	2,791 mm	2,093 mm

When to find it#

Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: May.

About the American Redstart#

The American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is a New World warbler. It is unrelated to the Old World redstarts.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

Spring migration (late April–May) is peak season.
Learn songs to locate birds before you see them.
Shoot at the canopy edge where light reaches the leaves.
Use a small flexible zone or animal-eye AF; tiny birds flit constantly, so shoot short bursts.
Sightings peak in May, which is when you'll have the most chances.
Tiny subjects: get close with a hide or feeder perch rather than cropping heavily.

Ethics#

The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.