Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea
The Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) is a common cardinal found in 41 countries, weighing about 28 g. The scarlet tanager is a medium-sized American songbird.
About the Scarlet Tanager
The scarlet tanager is a medium-sized American songbird. Until 2009, it was placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), but it and other members of its genus have since been classified as belonging to the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). The species' plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family, although the Piranga species lacks the thick conical bill that many cardinals possess. The species resides in thick deciduous woodlands and suburbs.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The scarlet tanager, a mid-sized passerine, is marginally the smallest of the four species of Piranga that breed north of the Mexican border. It can weigh from 23.5 to 38 g (0.83 to 1.34 oz), with an average of 25 g (0.88 oz) during breeding and an average of 35 g (1.2 oz) at the beginning of migration. Scarlet tanagers can range in length from 16 to 19 cm (6.3 to 7.5 in) and from 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 11.8 in) in wingspan. Adults of both sexes have pale, horn-colored, fairly stout, and smooth-textured bills. Adult males are crimson-red with black wings and tail.
What the Scarlet Tanager sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United Kingdom, Brazil, Martinique, Argentina, British Virgin Islands, St. Barthélemy.
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, with peak activity in May. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Scarlet Tanager?
- The scarlet tanager, a mid-sized passerine, is marginally the smallest of the four species of Piranga that breed north of the Mexican border. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Scarlet Tanager?
- The Scarlet Tanager is a small sized bird weighing about 28 g.
- Where can you see a Scarlet Tanager?
- The Scarlet Tanager occurs in 41 countries, including the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia and Panama.
- What does a Scarlet Tanager sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Scarlet Tanager on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Scarlet Tanager?
- The Scarlet Tanager is most easily confused with the Summer Tanager, the Western Tanager and the Hepatic Tanager.
- Is the Scarlet Tanager endangered?
- The Scarlet Tanager is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Scarlet Tanager for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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