The Birds of the Bow Valley series showcases the American redstart – a warbler species named for its similarity to a group of Old World birds that have red in the tail – is highlighted. Start was a former word for tail.
Breeding male American redstarts, as seen in this photo, are a striking combination of black, orange, and white. This bird was feeding along the flowing waters trail in Bow Valley Provincial Park, flicking its tail feathers repeatedly to flush out insects.
Michael W. (Mike) Potter is a professional photographer specializing in birds. He is a former park interpreter in Banff National Park, and the author and photographer of eight books on hiking and natural history in the Canadian Rockies, distributed by Canmore-based Alpine Book Peddlers. Potter’s website is michaelwpotter.ca, which includes a link to his bird photographs on Flickr.
