Slate-throated Redstart (Myioborus miniatus), Huachuca Canyon, Cochise County

This Slate-throated Redstart was discovered by Melody Kehl in the morning of 24 July 2013. The bird was was photographed by Laurens Halsey later in the afternoon of the same day.

Very rare, seven previously accepted records and one well documented report pending from earlier this year. 
This would be the ninth record if this and the other pending record are accepted. 

Slate-gray (versus black) upper parts lacking white eye crescents & lacking white wing patch differentiate this species from related Painted Redstart. The pattern of white on the otherwise slate-gray tail is also a useful characteristic for distinguishing this species. 

This bird appears to be molting out of juvenile plumage because of the incomplete red breast, course appearance to some of the plumage and the grayer head and back.  This raises the interesting question of where it fledged since birds this young rarely travel far. 

24 July 2013, photo by Laurens Halsey

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