Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea
Family Cardinalidae
Quick answer
A brilliant red songbird with jet-black wings that spends the summer high in eastern deciduous canopy — spectacular, and far more often heard than seen.
Quick facts
- Size
- Roughly 16–19 cm
- Habitat
- Mature deciduous forest, especially oak; large wooded parks
- Range
- Breeds in eastern North America, winters in northwestern South America
- Diet
- Insects, especially caterpillars and beetles; fruit in late summer
- When to look
- Late spring through early autumn in North America
- Family
- Cardinalidae
Identification
- Breeding male: brilliant scarlet with black wings and tail
- Female and autumn male: olive-yellow with darker wings
- Stout, pale bill
- Song is a burry, robin-like series; call is a distinctive 'chick-burr'
Behaviour
Forages deliberately in the canopy, often staying in one tree for long periods. Males sing persistently from high perches, which is usually how they're located.
Similar species
- Summer Tanager
- Male entirely red including the wings; larger, paler bill.
- Northern Cardinal
- Crested, red bill, black only around the face.
Birding tips
- Learn the 'chick-burr' call — it finds far more tanagers than scanning does
- Look after rain, when canopy birds often come lower
Frequently asked questions
Why is it so hard to see?
It feeds high in leafy canopy and moves slowly. Sound is the reliable route to a sighting.
Do males stay red all year?
No. They moult to olive-yellow before migrating, keeping the black wings.
Have you seen this bird?
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