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What does the Scarlet Tanager eat?

Piranga olivacea

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The Scarlet Tanager's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

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

How it forages

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.

When it feeds

Diurnal

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