Confirm American Redstart?

[harpoon659 3]

Seen at Riverbend Park in northern Virginia on 22 September, in a flock of confirmed Cape May, Magnolia, Palm, Tennessee, etc. Is this one an American Redstart female? Five views of what I think were all the same bird.

 

 

 

 

[Colton V 188]

Correct me if I’m wrong but I think the yellow spots on the base of the tail are unique to American Redstarts. This is a female. The males have basically the same pattern except they are black and orange instead of grey and yellow. 

Edited September 23 by Colton V

[AlexHenry 989]

1 hour ago, Colton V said:

Correct me if I’m wrong but I think the yellow spots on the base of the tail are unique to American Redstarts. This is a female. The males have basically the same pattern except they are black and orange instead of grey and yellow. 

Agreed. A first fall male looks similar to a female but "should" show some black speckling around the head neck or breast. 

Edited September 23 by AlexHenry

[Tony Leukering 1,703]

8 hours ago, AlexHenry said:

Agreed. A first fall male looks similar to a female but "should" show some black speckling around the head neck or breast. 

Not until the prealternate molt; in fall and winter, they're, essentially, indistinguishable from females, unless one can see the upper-tail coverts well.

Edited September 23 by Tony Leukering
typo fix

[AlexHenry 989]

On 9/23/2020 at 10:17 AM, Tony Leukering said:

Not until the prealternate molt; in fall and winter, they're, essentially, indistinguishable from females, unless one can see the upper-tail coverts well.

Good to know!

[harpoon659 3]

Many thanks to all for the confirmation!