Scarlet Tanager

About

The Scarlet Tanager is a medium-sized passerine bird known for the striking scarlet plumage of the breeding male. It is a Neotropical migrant, breeding in eastern North America and wintering in northern South America. Often elusive, it prefers mature deciduous or mixed forests.

Size & lifespan

Length

16-19 cm (6.3-7.5 in)

Wingspan

25-29 cm (9.8-11.4 in)

Weight

25-38 g (0.9-1.3 oz)

Lifespan

Average 2-5 years, up to 11 years recorded in the wild

Diet

Omnivore (primarily insectivorous during breeding season, frugivorous during migration and winter)

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Breeding male: Brilliant scarlet red body with jet black wings and tail. Non-breeding male (eclipse plumage): Yellowish-green body with black wings and tail, often with some residual red. Female: Olive-yellow body, brighter yellow on underparts, with dusky olive-brown wings and tail. Immature: Similar to female, but duller.

Beak shape

Conical, relatively stout, pale horn-colored to yellowish, sometimes darker on the culmen.

Eye color

Dark brown

Leg color

Dark gray to blackish

Distinguishing features

The stark contrast between the male's scarlet body and black wings/tail is unmistakable. Females and non-breeding males are distinguished from other tanagers by their relatively plain plumage and lack of wing bars.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles resemble adult females but are duller, with streaky underparts and often a more brownish wash to the wings and tail. Young males will gradually acquire patches of red during their first fall and spring.

Seasonal changes

Males exhibit dramatic seasonal changes. Breeding plumage (scarlet and black) is worn from spring arrival through mid-summer. Post-breeding, they molt into an eclipse plumage (yellowish-green with black wings/tail) before migrating. Females show less dramatic seasonal change, remaining olive-yellow year-round, though their plumage may appear fresher in spring.

Sexual dimorphism

Pronounced. Males are brilliant scarlet and black during breeding season, while females are olive-yellow and dusky. Males undergo a complete molt into an eclipse plumage (yellowish-green) in late summer before migrating.

How to identify

1. 1

   Male Breeding Plumage

   Look for the unmistakable combination of brilliant scarlet red body and contrasting jet black wings and tail. This is the easiest and most striking identification feature.

2. 2

   Female/Non-breeding Male Plumage

   Observe the overall olive-yellow coloration, brighter on the underparts, with dusky olive-brown wings and tail. Crucially, note the absence of wing bars, which helps distinguish it from Western Tanager and some other species. Non-breeding males will have black wings and tail, contrasting with their yellowish-green body.

3. 3

   Song

   Listen for the distinctive, somewhat hoarse, robin-like song, often described as sounding like a robin with a sore throat. It's a series of short, choppy phrases.

4. 4

   Call

   Learn the characteristic 'chip-churr' or 'chip-burr' call. This is often the first indication of a Scarlet Tanager's presence, especially when it's hidden in the canopy.

5. 5

   Habitat

   Focus your search in mature deciduous or mixed forests with a dense canopy. They are often found high in the trees.

6. 6

   Behavior

   Watch for birds foraging high in the canopy, gleaning insects from leaves and branches. They can be quite elusive despite their bright coloration.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Temperate deciduous forests, mixed forests, tropical rainforests (wintering grounds)

Geographic range

Breeds in eastern North America, from southern Canada south to the Appalachian Mountains and northern Georgia, and west to the Great Plains. Winters in northern South America, primarily in the Andes foothills from Colombia to Bolivia.

Elevation range

Breeding: Typically low to mid-elevations. Wintering: Up to 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) in the Andes.

Preferred environments

Mature, extensive deciduous or mixed forests with a dense canopy and relatively open understory. Often found near forest edges, clearings, or along streams. During migration, they can be found in a wider variety of wooded habitats, including suburban parks and gardens.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal

Feeding habits

Primarily insectivorous during the breeding season, foraging high in the canopy for caterpillars, moths, beetles, cicadas, and other invertebrates. They glean insects from foliage and branches, and occasionally sally out to catch flying insects. During migration and on wintering grounds, their diet shifts to include a significant amount of fruit, especially berries.

Social behavior

Generally solitary or found in pairs during the breeding season. During migration, they may form loose flocks, sometimes associating with other tanager species or mixed-species foraging flocks. On wintering grounds, they are often found in mixed-species flocks.

Flight pattern

Strong, direct, and undulating flight over longer distances. Within the forest, they fly between trees with quick, agile movements.

Migration pattern

Long-distance Neotropical migrant. Spring migration occurs from late April to late May. Fall migration occurs from late August to early October. They typically migrate at night.

Territoriality

Males are territorial during the breeding season, defending their nesting area with song and occasional aggressive displays against other males.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

May to July

Nesting habits

Nests are typically built by the female, usually 2-20 meters (6-65 feet) high in a deciduous tree, often on a horizontal branch away from the main trunk. The nest is a shallow, open cup made of twigs, rootlets, grasses, and weed stems, lined with finer materials.

Clutch size

3-5 eggs, typically 4

Egg description

3-5 eggs, pale blue to greenish-blue, speckled with reddish-brown or purplish spots, particularly at the larger end. Approximately 2.3 x 1.7 cm (0.9 x 0.7 in).

Incubation period

13-14 days, primarily by the female

Fledging period

9-11 days after hatching

Parental care

Both parents feed the nestlings, though the female does most of the incubation. After fledging, both parents continue to feed the young for several weeks.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Listen for their song and call. Scarlet Tanagers are often heard before they are seen. Learning their distinctive 'chip-churr' call and hoarse robin-like song is key to locating them, especially when they are high in the canopy.
2. Scan the canopy. They spend most of their time high in the trees, so use binoculars to carefully scan the upper branches and foliage. Look for movement or flashes of red.
3. Visit during migration. During spring and fall migration, they can be found in a wider variety of habitats and may be more visible as they stop to refuel. Early mornings are often best.
4. Be patient and observant. Despite their bright color, they can be surprisingly difficult to spot due to their preference for dense canopy and their tendency to move deliberately. Patience is rewarded.
5. Look for fruit trees during migration/winter. While breeding, they are insectivorous. But during migration and on their wintering grounds, they are highly frugivorous. Look for them in trees bearing berries or small fruits.

Similar species

Quick facts

Diet:

Insects (breeding), Fruits (migration/winter)

Habitat:

Mature Deciduous Forests

Migration:

Long-distance Neotropical Migrant

Male Plumage:

Scarlet body, black wings/tail (breeding)

Female Plumage:

Olive-yellow body, dusky wings/tail

Distinguishing Call:

'Chip-churr' or 'chip-burr'

Fun facts

• The Scarlet Tanager's brilliant red plumage is produced by carotenoid pigments obtained from its diet, not directly synthesized by the bird.
• Males undergo a complete molt in late summer, transforming from their striking scarlet and black breeding plumage to a yellowish-green eclipse plumage before migrating south. This makes them look very similar to females during fall migration.
• Despite their bright color, Scarlet Tanagers are often difficult to spot because they spend most of their time high in the forest canopy.
• Their song is often described as a 'robin with a sore throat' due to its similar rhythm but hoarser quality compared to the American Robin.
• Scarlet Tanagers are known to join mixed-species foraging flocks on their wintering grounds in South America, moving through the forest with other bird species.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Cardinalidae

Genus

Piranga

Species

Piranga olivacea

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