A Rare Bird

Note: click on any photo to enlarge.
So, I'm sitting at my computer doing some editing this morning. It is a slightly overcast day, but bright enough that it was worthwhile to open the window shade for light. Every now and then, I glance outside at the back yard, typically when I'm pausing to think about something.

I glance out the window and see a bird. What?! That is not the normal backyard sparrow, thrasher, or cactus wren. My mind registers disbelief.


The bird is black and white. It is walking up and down the trunk of my mesquite tree fanning its wings and tail. Displaying.

I know this bird but it shouldn't be here, not in the desert. It is a bird of pine-oak woodlands, trees found only in the riparian mountain canyons in these parts.

Maybe it's migrating through and my yard happened to be a good stopping place. I often have an unusual flycatcher or warbler for a brief stop in the spring when the bugs are abundant on my citrus trees.

But this bird? I must be hallucinating. It doesn't make sense for it to be here, not in my yard. I call my husband to tell him there is no f*cking way he's going to believe me, but there is a Painted Redstart in our yard.

He does believe me. He knows me well enough after 20 years to know I wouldn't lie about something like this. About the number of chocolate chip cookies that are left, maybe, but not about a rare bird.

I describe what the bird is doing. The nearby pile of composting chicken manure must be providing a nice swarm of tasty insects for the bird lands in it briefly. I'm sad my sweetie is not home to see it and we both hope that it stays around for the rest of the day to allow him a glimpse later.


The bird lands frequently on this rock. It's a good place to sit and watch for tasty bugs. It also provides a hard surface to bash an insect until it quits squirming enough to swallow it down.


Finally, it turns to show off its red breast.

After hanging up the phone, I decide to try to get a photo. It won't be easy with my little point and shoot digital, but it's worth a try. Redstarts don't tend to spook as easily as some other species. I edge out into the yard, moving in slow motion, glad that I wore dull colors. I snap pictures from a distance that I know will not be any good.

The bird alights low in the pomegranate tree and preens for a while. I move a few more inches. I can barely hear it, but I can see that it is singing a little. I wait patiently as the foliage is too dense to get a photo.


The bird finally returns to its fly-catching.


I love redstarts. They have always been one of my favorite birds, and I'm so pleased to have one visit before leaving this house.

I search online for redstart sightings in Tucson and see they are uncommon but the sighting seem to occur in late March and early April - migration time. I wonder what else might turn up this spring?

It's been an hour since I first spotted the bird. I keep looking outside, hoping for another glimpse. Once in a while, I get one. Please stay, little bird, just for another few hours. I want to share this joy with my sweetie. Otherwise he may not forgive me for eating most of the chocolate chip cookies.