Male Scarlet Tanager

The Scarlet Tanager

The Scarlet Tanager, with its striking red plumage and contrasting black wings, is a captivating sight in the eastern woodlands of North America. Known for its vivid colors, the male Scarlet Tanager is easily recognized during the breeding season. His bright red body and jet-black wings and tail make him one of the most eye-catching birds in the forest. The female, though less flamboyant, sports a beautiful olive-yellow color that provides her with effective camouflage among the leaves. Intriguingly, the male molts into a similar olive-yellow plumage outside the breeding season, allowing him to blend in with the dense foliage of their wintering grounds in South America.

Despite their vibrant appearance, spotting a Scarlet Tanager can be a challenge. These birds are true denizens of the forest canopy, spending much of their time high up in the tallest trees. They prefer to stay within the deep, mature forests where the thick cover of leaves provides ample protection and a rich supply of insects, their primary food source. Their quiet, deliberate movements and occasional bursts of song—a raspy, burry series of phrases—can make them hard to locate. Observers often have to rely on these subtle vocalizations or a fleeting glimpse of color to detect their presence.

The Scarlet Tanager’s life is marked by an impressive long-distance migration. After breeding in North America’s temperate forests, they undertake a remarkable journey to the tropical forests of South America for the winter. This migration, covering thousands of miles, is a testament to their resilience and adaptability. During their time in South America, they blend into the lush greenery, trading their breeding plumage for more subdued colors that help them avoid predators.

This beautiful species faces challenges, including habitat loss and fragmentation, both in their breeding and wintering grounds. Conservation efforts are crucial to preserving the mature forests they rely on. For bird enthusiasts, catching a glimpse of a Scarlet Tanager is a special experience, a reminder of the delicate balance of nature and the extraordinary journeys some birds undertake. Their presence in the forest is a vibrant testament to the diversity and beauty of the avian world.

Female Scarlet Tanager

How Find Locate a Scarlet Tanager

In Pennsylvania, Scarlet Tanagers typically breed from late May to early July. During this period, males arrive first in the region, staking out territories and showcasing their brilliant red plumage to attract females. The breeding season coincides with the availability of abundant insect prey, which is essential for feeding their young. Nesting usually occurs in mature deciduous and mixed forests, where the female builds a nest high in the tree canopy, often on a horizontal branch. The breeding activity peaks in June, with both parents involved in feeding and raising the chicks. By late July, the tanagers begin preparing for their southward migration to their wintering grounds in South America.

To spot a Scarlet Tanager, it’s best to venture into mature deciduous or mixed forests, especially during late spring and early summer when they are breeding. Focus on the upper canopy, as these birds tend to stay high in the trees. Bringing binoculars will greatly aid in spotting them among the foliage. Listen for their distinctive song—a burry, robin-like tune with a “sore throat” quality—or their characteristic “chip-burr” call, which can help pinpoint their location. Early morning, when birds are most active, is an ideal time for spotting. Patience and a keen eye are essential, as these birds can be elusive, blending into the greenery despite the males’ bright red coloration. Additionally, look for areas where there are blooming trees or abundant insects, as these spots may attract tanagers looking for food.

Male Scarlet Tanager in Winter Plumage

Males are NOT Always Red!

The male Scarlet Tanager is renowned for its brilliant red plumage during the breeding season, but this vibrant color is not permanent. Outside of the breeding season, usually starting in late summer, the male undergoes a molt, shedding his bright red feathers and replacing them with olive-yellow ones. This non-breeding plumage closely resembles the year-round coloration of the female and helps the male blend into the foliage of their wintering habitats in South America. This seasonal change in appearance is a form of camouflage, providing protection from predators when the males are not actively competing for mates or defending territories. The return to red plumage occurs in the spring, just in time for the next breeding season.

Scarlet Tanager Visits PA Bird Feeder 2

Do Scarlet Tanagers Visit Bird Feeders?

Scarlet Tanagers are not frequent visitors to typical backyard bird feeders, as they primarily feed on insects and fruit. Their diet consists mainly of insects like beetles, caterpillars, wasps, and spiders, which they forage for in the forest canopy. They may occasionally eat small fruits and berries, especially during migration when they need to build up fat reserves. While they are unlikely to visit feeders with common birdseed, you might attract them to your yard by offering fruits such as grapes, oranges, or berries. Additionally, providing a naturalistic habitat with plenty of trees and shrubs can make your yard more appealing to them, as they prefer wooded areas.

However, in the spring and summer of 2022 we had a male scarlet tanager that would make regular visits to our PA Bird Feeder 2 feeding station to feed on the jelly feeder we put out for the Baltimore orioles.

Female Scarlet Tanager Visits PA Bird Feeder 2

Baltimore Oriole and Scarlet Tanager on PA Bird Feeder 2

We have seen scarlet tanagers on a regular basis on our PA Wildlife Cam 1 which is located in the center of a stream known for a large array of different bird species getting a bath or a drink.

Scarlet Tanager in Stream – Video 1

Scarlet Tanager in Stream – Video 2

Watch PA Bird Feeder 2 LIVE Here: https://pixcams.com/pa-bird-feeder-2/

Watch PA Wildlife Cam 1 LIVE Here: https://pixcams.com/pa-wildlife-1/

8 Fun Facts about the Scarlet Tanager!

Fun Fact 1: When capturing bees, wasps, and hornets scarlet tanagers rake their prey against a branch to remove their stingers before consumption.

Fun Fact 2: When threatened, Scarlet tanagers mob potential predators by diving and swooping around them and calling. However, when the potential predator is an American crow or marlin, tanagers become quiet and try to be inconspicuous.

Fun Fact 3: The bill of the Scarlet tanager has a tooth-like structure that allows the bird to eat fruits and seeds.

Fun Fact 4: Scarlet tanagers are able to eat 600 tent caterpillars in just 15 minutes.

Fun Fact 5: When searching for insects, Scarlet tanagers may even walk vertically on tree trunks in order to probe the bark.

Fun Fact 6: The oldest Scarlet Tanager on record was a male, and at least 11 years, 11 months old. He was banded in Pennsylvania in 1990 and found in Texas in 2001.

Fun Fact 7: Brown-headed Cowbirds are known laying their parasitism eggs in the nest of scarlet tanagers. A notable fact is that Scarlet Tanagers typically recognize cowbird eggs as foreign and often reject them by burying them under new nesting material or abandoning the nest entirely.

Fun Fact 8: In June 2020, a unique hybrid bird was discovered in western Pennsylvania, combining characteristics of a Scarlet Tanager and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. This bird, a male with the appearance of a grosbeak but the song of a tanager, was the result of a Scarlet Tanager father and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak mother. This is a significant finding as it represents the first documented hybrid of these two species, which have been on separate evolutionary paths for around 10 million years.