Female Juvenile Plumbeous Water-Redstart

The Plumbeous water redstart has a small and light build. Males and females differ in coloration. Males have dark, lead-colored plumage; a light gray lower belly; tinted-black forehead and cheeks; and chestnut red upper and lower tail coverts, tail feathers, and flight feathers, which are also dark brown on the edges. Females have a dark gray abdomen and back, with the former covered with white spots and the latter slightly light brown on the sides; white upper and lower tail coverts; and dark brown tail and flight feathers. Their young are also different, with male juveniles having white specks only on the head while young females have spots extending throughout their entire plumage. However, both male and female have black beaks and light brown legs and feet. They have a sweet, sharp voice, and their long calls are often heard in the mountains and near rivers. Their primary diet consists of insects, spiders, and millipedes, as well as a few types of plants. Their nests are constructed out of moss, ferns, waterweeds, and the stems of plants, and are usually built in cracks or openings between rocks. A territorial and aggressive bird, Plumbeous water redstarts will chase away other birds that encroach into their area, even if the intruders are larger in size; however, they are very shy in the presence of humans. The birds are often seen standing in water or on rocks in the middle of a stream or river, usually running with their open tail feathers flapping like a fan. Plumbeous water restarts are very nimble birds and are quite capable of catching flying insects, after which they will quickly return to their original location to eat their prey.