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Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: THRAUPIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Scarlet Tanager Photo

© Kevin T. Karlson

A striking black-winged red bird, the Scarlet Tanager is a common species of the eastern forest interior. Despite its brilliant coloring it is often overlooked because of its rather secretive behavior and its preference for the forest canopy.

Inside Birding
For complete information on this species, visit The Birds of North America Online.

Appearance

Finchlike
Finchlike
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Medium-sized songbird.
  • Male distinctive: bright red bird with black wings and tail.

Male Description

Breeding (Alternate) plumage: Bright red all over; variable in hue and can be somewhat orange. Black tail and wings. Whitish bill. Dark eye. Gray legs.
Nonbreeding (Basic) plumage: Bright olive-green body. Black wings and tail. During molts in spring and fall, shows mixed red and olive green in body feathers.

Female Description

Olive green to yellow body, brightest on throat, rump and undertail. Brownish olive wings and tail edged green.

Immature Description

Immature resembles adult female. First spring male with lighter red or orange body.

Range Map Help

Scarlet Tanager Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings

Similar Species

  • Summer Tanager male all dull red, including wings and tail. Female Summer Tanager more mustard yellow to orange-brown, with wings only dusky, not dark; bill larger.
  • Western Tanager female has wing bars and dark back.