a pair will often bond by singing together. Distribution and habitat Painted redstarts are common in open oak woodlands and canyons at heights between in Central America and Mexico, ranging as far north as the Madrean sky islands and Mogollon Rim in Arizona and New Mexico and Big Bend National Park in Texas; they are thought to be wholly insectivorous. During the summer and winter, these birds may venture as far south as Nicaragua. In 2010, a painted redstart was found further north in California than had ever been recorded, in Auburn, CA, east of Sacramento. In 2013, one was observed in Berkeley, CA. Breeding Their nesting is done on the ground, and they create their nests so that they will be hidden among rocks, roots, or tufts of grass on steeply sloping ground. Their nests are large and shallow, constructed of strips of bark, plant fibers, leaves, and grass. The female will lay 3 or 4 white to cream-colored eggs that are speckled with fine brown and reddish spots. Incubation lasts about 14 days, but other nesting details are largely unknown. References External links Stamps (for Nicaragua) with RangeMap Painted redstart photo gallery VIREO (with photo of egg clutch) Photo-High Res; Article borderland-tours painted redstart Birds of Central America Birds of Mexico Birds of the Rio Grande valleys Birds of Guatemala Birds of Honduras Birds of Nicaragua Birds of the Sierra Madre Occidental Birds of the Sierra Madre Oriental Birds of the Sierra Madre del Sur Birds of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt painted whitestart