Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanagers are unusual among the 230 species of the Neotropical tanager family because they have seasonal changes in plumage. Only one other tanager, a South American species, does this. Each fall, the male changes his striking breeding plumage of scarlet and black for an olive green color that is similar to the plumage of the female Scarlet Tanager.

After spending the winter in the canopy of the northwestern South American tropical forest, Scarlet Tanagers begin their nocturnal migration north through Central America and across the Gulf of Mexico. Males arrive first and begin singing short phrases alternately high and low in pitch, reminiscent of the American Robin's song but characterized by a throaty burr. Males perform courtship displays from low branches, holding their wings drooped and slightly away from the body, with their neck elongated to display their scarlet backs, as the female looks on from above. After pairs are formed, the male's singing comes from mid-heights, and he accompanies his mate as she forages. Females are also known to sing, although with a somewhat softer voice than the male. A distinctive call given by Scarlet Tanagers is chip-churr, with the first note higher in pitch.

Despite the male's bright coloring, these birds can be difficult to see as they slowly and deliberately seek out beetles and caterpillars high in the tree canopy. These tanagers can remain motionless for periods of time, concealed amid dense foliage. During cold or wet weather in early spring, however, they may seek their prey on the ground, and, at other times, they sally after bees and wasps in the manner of flycatchers. Females, which tend to forage higher in trees than males, also engage more often in fly catching. Fruits, berries, and buds augment their primarily insect diet. Oak trees are favored both for foraging and nest building.

Scarlet Tanagers inhabit deciduous forests, pine-oak woodlands, parks, and suburban areas with large trees. The summer range extends throughout eastern North America from Minnesota to Maine, south to northern Mississippi and central Georgia. Where the range overlaps with that of the Summer Tanager (P. rubra), Scarlet Tanagers tend to occupy denser habitat, whereas Summer Tanagers tend to occupy more open habitat. Both Scarlet and Summer tanagers respond to each other’s songs and maintain nonoverlapping territories.
Scarlet Tanager Range Map

Description: Scarlet Tanagers are medium-sized songbirds (approximately seven inches in length) with stout, pale-colored bills. The adult male's plumage is unique and unmistakable: scarlet head and body with black wings and tail. Females have olive-brown wings and tails edged with yellowish olive green. The back and head are dull greenish, becoming yellowish below, especially on the belly. Males in winter plumage resemble the females, but their wings and tails are black. Female Scarlet Tanagers are distinguished from the similar Summer Tanager females by their smaller darker bills and by their yellow-green plumage. Female Summer Tanagers have yellow-orange plumage.

Attracting Tanagers

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