Scarlet Tanager

18 cm (7") Common. Eastern United States, southeastern Canada. Mature deciduous woods, pine-oak forests, pines, maples, shade trees.

Male: breeding bird has brilliant red body (some orange variants) with jet-black wings and tail. In July/August red feathers molt into greenish ones, giving the bird a patchy red and green look.

Female: olive-green above, yellow below, wings and tail dark brownish or black. Light bill. Similar female Summer Tanager has a larger bill.

Song: hoarse Robin-like warble song; distinctive "chick-burr" (keep-back) call.

Videos

Images

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Ray Barlow

Credit: nebirdsplus

Credit: Bob Devlin

Distribution Maps

Scarlet Tanager distribution map