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Scarlet Tanager

Least Concern

Piranga olivacea

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A brilliant flash of crimson transforms any forest walk in eastern North America when this striking songbird swoops between the treetops.

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Scarlet Tanager is a striking medium-sized bird. Adult males in breeding season display brilliant scarlet-red bodies contrasted by black wings and tail. Their bill is whitish or pale.

Females are olive-green above with yellowish-olive underparts, and have duller brownish-olive wings and tail. They show a subtle yellow "spectacled" appearance around their eyes.

During fall and winter (non-breeding season), adult males molt to an olive-green plumage similar to females but retain their black wings and tail.

Size

Length

16cm to 19cm

Wingspan

25cm to 30cm

Weight

23g to 38g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Red Black

Secondary Colour

Olive Yellow

Beak Colour

Pale Grey

Leg Colour

Blue-grey

Primary Colour (Female)

Olive Yellow

Secondary Colour (Female)

Green

Beak Colour (Female)

Pale Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Blue-grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Scarlet Tanager can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Scarlet Tanager is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Scarlet Tanager is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Scarlet Tanager is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Scarlet Tanager is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Scarlet Tanager is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Scarlet Tanager is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Scarlet Tanager is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Scarlet Tanager is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Scarlet Tanager is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Scarlet Tanager is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Scarlet Tanager is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Scarlet Tanagers inhabit mature deciduous and mixed forests across eastern North America. They prefer large, unbroken tracts of woodland with tall trees and a closed canopy.

During breeding season, they're found from southeastern Canada to the northeastern United States. In winter, they migrate to northwestern South America, inhabiting tropical forests in countries like Colombia and Ecuador.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Scarlet Tanager. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
  • Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
  • This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

  • More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
  • How birds move around during different seasons
© 2025 - Birdfact
Resident
Breeding
Non-breeding
Passage

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year
Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Aruba Barbados Belize Bermuda Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Brazil Cayman Islands Colombia Cuba Curaçao Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Martinique Mexico Montserrat Netherlands Panama Peru Puerto Rico Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sint Maarten The Bahamas The United Kingdom Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos US Virgin Islands Venezuela
Species that are present in the area during their breeding season
Canada United States of America
Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season
Costa Rica
Species that pass through the area during migration
Guadeloupe Nicaragua

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Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:
  • Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
  • Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
  • Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
  • Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
  • Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

  • 0-20: Very Low
  • 21-40: Low
  • 41-60: Average
  • 61-80: High
  • 81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 75

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

Quite agile, demonstrated by their ability to hop and manoeuvre effectively through dense forest canopy whilst foraging. Their aerial chase capabilities during territorial disputes further showcase their nimbleness amongst the treetops.

Strength 45

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Moderate strength for their size. Whilst capable of long-distance migration between North and South America, they possess typical strength for a small songbird, sufficient for handling insects and maintaining their canopy lifestyle.

Adaptability 82

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Highly adaptable, evidenced by their ability to thrive in various forest environments from temperate to tropical zones, successful long-distance migration patterns, and capacity to shift diet between insects and fruits as seasons change.

Aggressiveness 60

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Moderately aggressive during breeding season, with males engaging in territorial aerial chases. However, they're not notably aggressive outside breeding season and show typical defensive behaviours rather than excessive aggression.

Endurance 85

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Excellent endurance, particularly demonstrated by their impressive long-distance migration between North and South America. Their ability to maintain active foraging in the canopy and sustain breeding territories also indicates strong endurance capabilities.

Diet

Scarlet Tanagers primarily feed on insects, including caterpillars, beetles, wasps, and flies. They glean these from leaves and branches in the forest canopy.

During migration and in winter, they supplement their diet with fruits and berries, particularly when insect availability is low.

Behaviour

Scarlet Tanagers are often heard before they're seen, as they tend to forage high in the forest canopy. They hop along branches, searching for insects.

During the breeding season, males become territorial and engage in aerial chases to defend their areas.

Vocalisation

The Scarlet Tanager's song is a series of burry warbles, often described as sounding like a robin with a sore throat. Their distinctive call is a sharp 'chip-burr' or 'chick-bree'.

During territorial disputes, males may produce a softer 'tuk-tuk-tuk' sound.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding occurs from late spring to early summer. Males arrive at breeding grounds first, establishing territories and attracting females with their bright plumage and songs.

Females construct shallow, saucer-shaped nests on horizontal tree branches, usually 20-30 feet high. The nest is made of twigs, grass, and bark, lined with fine rootlets. They typically lay 3-5 pale blue-green eggs with brown speckles.

Incubation lasts about 13-14 days, primarily done by the female. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after 9-11 days but remain dependent on the adults for several more weeks.

Lifespan

Typical Lifespan Range 5 - 10 years
Max Recorded Lifespan 11.9 years [1]
0
3
7
10
14

years

The Scarlet Tanager typically lives for 5 to 10 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 11.9 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [2]

While currently listed as Least Concern, Scarlet Tanagers face threats from habitat loss due to deforestation and forest fragmentation. Climate change may also impact their breeding habitats and migration patterns.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting large tracts of mature deciduous forests.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

2,600,000 mature individuals [3]

Global Population Trend

[4]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

  • Listen for their distinctive 'chick-burr' call to locate them in dense foliage
  • Look for flashes of red high in deciduous forest canopies
  • Visit eastern US forests during spring migration for the best viewing opportunities
  • Observe fruit-bearing trees in fall, where they may feed before migration

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Family:

Cardinalidae

Predators

Main predators include hawks, owls, and occasionally squirrels or snakes that raid nests for eggs or young.

Did You Know?

  1. Scarlet Tanagers can see ultraviolet light, which may play a role in mate selection.
  2. Despite their bright coloration, they can be surprisingly difficult to spot in dense foliage.
  3. They are one of the latest spring migrants, often arriving on breeding grounds in May.

Community Experience

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References

  1. 2

    website: BirdLife International. 2016. Piranga olivacea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22722466A94767758.

    View source
  2. 4

    report, 2007: Data from Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count: Butcher and Niven

  3. 3

    website, 2020: Partners in Flight

    View source
  4. 1

    website: Historical Longevity Records of North American Birds

    View source

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