Scarlet Tanager Range, Habitat + Distribution

Scarlet tanager (Piranha) is a colorful but elusive species of the Cardinalidae family. The species is scientifically named for the soft olive hue of the females, but its common name refers to the bright red color of the adult males.

As one of North America’s most attractive birds, this species should be high on every birdwatcher’s must-see list, but where exactly does the scarlet tanager live?

The scarlet tanager is a neotropical immigrant that winters between Panama and Bolivia. The birds return to the United States and Canada each spring to breed. Most populations nest in the Midwest and Northeast, but some birds use forest habitats in the Southwest and Southeast.

The scarlet tanager is a forest bird that inhabits the deciduous forests of the United States and the montane forests of South American wintering grounds. They are generally uncommon in suburban areas, although they will visit wooded areas.

This article describes the range and habitat of the scarlet tanager, one of the most colorful songbirds in the United States.

Scarlet tanagers can be found each spring in the United States and Canada

What is the distribution range of the scarlet tanager?

Scarlet Tanagers are distributed between southern Canada in the north and Bolivia in the south. These migratory birds visit the deciduous forests of North America every spring to nest. They head south in the fall, just in time to escape the cold and enjoy the warm tropical winters near the equator.

Read on for a more in-depth look at their North American range.

Where do Scarlet Tanagers live in the US?

The scarlet tanager visits the eastern half of the United States from April to October each year. Their North American breeding range is centered on the deciduous forests of the Northeast.

To reach their northern breeding grounds, they must migrate across the Gulf of Mexico, so bird watchers along the Gulf Coast and Southeast can see them for several weeks of the year.

Watch out for scarlet tanager breeding in the following areas of the United States:

• northeast: Delaware and Pennsylvania to Maine
• Midwest: Minnesota to Missouri, east to Ohio and Michigan
• southwest: Some scarlet tanagers nest in Oklahoma
• southeast: West Virginia to Northern Alabama and Georgia

The scarlet tanager visits the eastern half of the United States from April to October each year

Where do Scarlet Tanagers live in Canada?

The scarlet tanager is not widely distributed in Canada, although many birds cross the border each year to breed from the Atlantic coast to the southernmost tip of Saskatchewan. Their breeding range in Canada appears to be expanding westward.

Keep an eye out for the returning scarlet tanager in the following Canadian provinces:

• Manitoba
• ontario
• Quebec
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia

Read on for more details on where you should look for these fascinating songbirds.

Female scarlet tanagers aren’t as distinctive as males

Where are scarlet tanagers most common?

Scarlet tanagers are most abundant along the Appalachian Mountains from Virginia to Pennsylvania. They occur in highest densities in unbroken forest areas where there are large numbers of mature large oaks and other deciduous tree species.

What is the habitat of the scarlet tanager?

Scarlet tanagers are forest birds. They are most commonly found in mature deciduous forests during the breeding season. They also reproduce to a lesser extent in mixed forests (deciduous/coniferous forests).

Scarlet Tanagers will visit suburbs with similar characteristics, especially shady areas with large numbers of large deciduous trees such as oaks.

However, these birds showed a strong preference for forest patches of at least 25 acres or more, and they were attracted to areas with large trees for nesting.

Scarlet tanagers can be found almost anywhere when migrating, although they prefer areas where their habitat is similar to their breeding grounds.

Scarlet tanagers are usually found in mature deciduous forests

How rare is it to see a scarlet tanager?

Scarlet tanagers are hard to spot despite their bright colors. They’re common in suitable deciduous forests in the east, but their habit of foraging quietly under the canopy of large trees means you’ll usually have to spend some time looking for them.

Where is the best place to see scarlet tanagers?

The best places to find scarlet tanagers are in mature deciduous forests from Pennsylvania to Virginia. However, other hotspots include southern Michigan, southeastern New York and New Hampshire.

It may be beneficial to visit the following areas:

• Pimatunion State Park, Pennsylvania
• Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
• Warren Dunes State Park, Michigan
• Beech Fork State Park, West Virginia

Men are especially vocal in May when it comes to establishing territories and attracting mates. Listen to their melodious, robin-like song, especially in the early morning and evening, and scan the canopy for the bright scarlet and black of males.

Female scarlet tanagers are less conspicuous, but are often seen nearby.

Closeup of a male scarlet tanager in Galveston County, Texas

When is the scarlet tanager coming out?

Scarlet tanagers migrate at night but are otherwise diurnal. This means they are active during the day and return to their habitat at night.

Will the Scarlet Tanagers stay in one place?

Scarlet tanagers are highly migratory, so they certainly don’t stay in one place for an entire year. However, recaptures suggest that these birds do return to the same area each year to nest, although data are limited.

Breeding takes about five weeks from the time the nest starts until the chicks leave the nest, and both parents will continue to feed the chicks for about two weeks.

Therefore, the pair must stay near the nest for at least two months. Independent young people are likely to remain in the area until they leave to immigrate.

Male Scarlet Tanager perched high on a treetop at Ashbridges Bay Parh, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Where do scarlet tanagers live in winter?

Scarlet tanagers live in South America during the winter. They inhabit mid-forest from lowlands near sea level to mountain slopes at elevations over 4,000 feet (1,200 m).

Scarlet tanagers winter in the following countries:

• Panama
• Bolivia
• Peru
• ecuador
• Colombia

How do scarlet tanagers survive the winter?

Scarlet tanagers escape the cold by flying to tropical South America for the winter. Seasons don’t change much near the equator, so these migratory birds live in perpetual warmth.

Male scarlet tanagers are especially easy to spot because their bright red plumage stands out in trees – pictured at Pinckney State Park near Pinckney, Michigan

Where do scarlet tanagers live in summer?

Scarlet tanagers live in forested areas of eastern North America in summer. During the breeding season in summer, female scarlet tanagers build nests high in trees such as maple, spruce, oak, and elm.

Do scarlet tanagers live in groups?

Scarlet tanagers are not social birds. They are very territorial and monogamous during the breeding season, so you will usually see them alone. However, you might see a pair of birds foraging together at the start of the breeding season, or a loose flock of birds during their annual migration.