redstart

noun

red·​start ˈred-ˌstärt How to pronounce redstart (audio)
1
: a small Old World songbird (Phoenicurus phoenicurus of the family Muscicapidae) with the male having a white brow, black throat, and chestnut breast and tail
2
: an American warbler (Setophaga ruticilla of the family Parulidae) with a black and orange male

Examples of redstart in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
During a tour of the surrounding salt marshes, visitors can view Wilson’s snipes and belted kingfishers scanning the water for prey, while the park’s forests are perfect for spotting passerines like the common yellowthroat, American redstart and northern cardinal. — Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025 American redstarts and magnolia warblers reliably appeared together in the researchers’ nets in spring and fall. — Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

red + obsolete start handle, tail

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of redstart was in 1553

Rhymes for redstart

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Cite this Entry

“Redstart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/redstart. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

redstart

noun
red·​start ˈred-ˌstärt How to pronounce redstart (audio)
: an American warbler with a black and orange male

More from Merriam-Webster on redstart

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about redstart

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