scarlet tanager

1. Bird Name: The bird is commonly referred to as the Scarlet Tanager. It is scientifically known as the Piranga olivacea.

2. Appearance: The male Scarlet Tanager is a striking, vibrant red with black wings and a tail, unlike any other bird species in North America. The bird is renowned for its bright, fiery scarlet shade, which contrasts starkly with its jet-black wings and tail. In contrast, the female Scarlet Tanager is a more subtle olive-yellow, with similar wing and tail colors to the male. Both sexes possess a stout beak.

3. Size: The Scarlet Tanager is a medium-sized bird, with an average length of 16 to 18 cm (approx. 7 inches). Their wingspan ranges from 25 to 30 cm, or roughly 9 to 11 inches. A typical adult Tanager weighs between 23 to 35 g.

4. Habitat & Distribution: The Scarlet Tanagers are predominantly found in the eastern regions of North America. They choose to inhabit mature deciduous forests, especially those dominated by oak species. Additionally, they migrate extensively, traveling to the northwestern regions of South America during the winter.

5. Interesting Facts: The Scarlet Tanager is known for its exceptional migration habits, traveling up to 5,600 km from its breeding grounds in North America to its wintertime abode in northwestern South America. The bird is also peculiar for replacing its red feathers with yellow-green feathers in fall. Although the bird has a relatively solitary disposition during the breeding season, it can be found in mixed-species flocks during migration and on its wintering grounds.

6. Diet: The Scarlet Tanagers are predominately insectivorous throughout the year. Their diet includes beetles, cicadas, leafhoppers, and dragonflies. However, they also consume fruits and seeds, especially during breeding and migration periods.

7. Behavior & Sounds: This bird is a solitary nester, preferring to place its nest on the horizontal branch of a tree, well concealed by foliage. Their call is a distinctive, hoarse-sounding “chip-burr”. Its song is reminiscent of a robin’s but more hurried and less musical.

8. Conservation Status: According to the IUCN Red List, the Scarlet Tanager has been classified as Least Concern. Despite this, the species is facing habitat loss due to deforestation.

9. Lifespan: The average lifespan of a Scarlet Tanager in the wild is about seven years. However, the oldest known Scarlet Tanager lived to be 12 years and 11 months.

10. Additional Notes: In Spain, the bird is known as “Tanagra escarlata”. Although they tend to avoid human contact, Scarlet Tanagers play a crucial role in ecosystems as a predator of harmful insects and a disperser of seeds. Their brilliant colors also make them a charming spectacle for birdwatchers. Despite their least concern status, efforts must continue to be made to conserve their habitats considering the existential threats of deforestation and climate change.