Scarlet Tanager Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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New York, May 26, 2019Recorded by Matthew D. Medler / Macaulay Library
Song
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New York, July 13, 2016Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Song
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West Virginia, July 05, 2019Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Maryland, May 27, 1998Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, September 15, 2019Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, May 14, 1979Recorded by Thomas H. Davis / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Maryland, May 09, 1999Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Flight calls
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Pennsylvania, May 17, 2019Recorded by Gettysburg College NFC Station / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

The male Scarlet Tanager sings a burry series of 4–5 chirruping phrases with a hurried quality. Many people liken it to the sound of a robin with a sore throat. He sings from an exposed perch to defend his territory, getting into singing wars with his neighbors. Females sing a similar song but more softly and with fewer syllables. Mates often sing together while foraging or while the female is gathering nesting material.

Calls

Both male and female Scarlet Tanagers give an energetic and very distinctive chick-burr. They also give a descending screech call when attacking intruders, a soft call that rises in pitch during courtship and nesting, a twittering call when feeding or flying together, and a nasal whistle when arriving at the nest with food.