Where does the Scarlet Tanager live?
Piranga olivacea
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Open the appThe Scarlet Tanager lives in specific habitats and regions. Knowing where, and when, to look improves your chances of a successful sighting.
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.
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.
Elevation range
Breeding: Typically low to mid-elevations. Wintering: Up to 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) in the Andes.
Where to look
Mature Deciduous Forests
The primary breeding habitat. Look for large tracts of oak, maple, and beech forests.
Mixed Forests
Areas where deciduous and coniferous trees intermingle can also host Scarlet Tanagers.
Forest Edges and Gaps
While preferring deep forest, they can sometimes be seen along edges or in clearings, especially during migration.
Large Parks and Wooded Suburbs
During migration, they may stop over in suitable wooded areas, even in urbanized environments, if mature trees are present.
Field tips
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Migration
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.
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