Red Birds in North America: Which Have You Seen?

Nature is full of green plants, so when we see something red contrasting that hue, it’s hard to look away. Red birds look stunning in all natural environments, whether it’s fresh white snow or trees covered in leaves. If you live in North America, you’ve likely seen birds of this color occasionally. So, how common are red birds in North America, and which species might you see?

Are There Red Birds in North America?

There are plenty of native North American birds with red feathers. Some have red feathers from head to tail while others have small patches of bold red feathers. No matter how much red is on a bird, that bird’s plumage looks stunning. You might see these birds appear in your yard sometimes, but for better odds, explore parks and nature trails while keeping your eyes peeled for red birds.

North America’s Red Birds

There’s a wide variety of birds with red feathers living from Canada to Mexico. Here are some of the native birds with the boldest red plumage.

Northern Cardinal (Male is an Iconic Red Bird)

• Habitat: Woodland edges, thickets, gardens, parks
• Diet: Seeds, fruits, vegetable matter, insects
• Behavior: They can be territorial, especially during breeding seasons.
• Interesting Fact: In rare cases, northern cardinals can appear yellow due to a genetic mutation.

Northern cardinals are the most iconic red birds in North America. The males have red feathers all over, along with black markings near their eyes. They have a short, thick red-orange bill that’s perfect for cracking open seeds. The females look almost identical to the males, but they have brown feathers instead of red ones.

These birds live in the eastern half of the United States and parts of Mexico year-round. You might hear their unique sounds, such as loud, metallic chirps before seeing their beautiful red feathers.

According to a study from L. LaReesa Wolfenbarger, the bright red coloring of male cardinals is important for mating and territory. She stated: “Redder males were paired with earlier breeding females, an established measure of mate quality in birds. Second, redder males obtained territories of higher quality, as measured by vegetation density.”

Scarlet Tanager (Male is Bright Red or Red-orange)

• Habitat: Deciduous forests
• Diet: Insects, berries
• Behavior: They prefer to keep a distance from humans by staying high in the trees.
• Interesting Fact: They can eat up to 600 tent caterpillars in only 15 minutes.

Male scarlet tanagers have bright red or red-orange feathers with dark-colored wings. Instead of red, females have dirty yellow feathers. When it isn’t a breeding season, the males typically have the same colors as females.

Even with such bold coloring, these birds can be difficult to spot since they hang out high in the forest canopies. During the non-breeding season, scarlet tanagers live in northern South America. Then, they migrate up to the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada to breed, sometimes stopping along the way. 

Summer Tanager (Male is Bright Red)

• Habitat: Open woodlands
• Diet: Insects (particularly bees and wasps), berries
• Behavior: They forage high in trees and may become territorial during the breeding season.
• Interesting Fact: They catch wasps in mid-flight and rub them against branches to safely remove the stinger.

Female summer tanagers are one of the most stunning yellow birds in North America. Yet, the adult males are bright red all over instead. Young males are a dull yellow-green color, but patches of red feathers appear as they get older.

When it isn’t the breeding season, you can find summer tanagers from southern Mexico all the way to northern South America. Then, they migrate up to the southern half of the United States for the breeding season. They hunt pesky wasps, catching them in mid-flight without getting stung.

Hepatic Tanager (Male is Red-Orange)

• Habitat: Open woodlands with pine trees
• Diet: Insects, spiders, berries
• Behavior: They typically keep a distance from humans while moving slowly across trees to find food.
• Interesting Fact: Very few hepatic tanagers have been studied – only 106 have been banded in the United States.

The hepatic tanager is another species that has yellow females and red males. Males have some bold red-orange feathers, along with some duller patches near their wings and eyes. Before they’re full-grown, the males have dull yellow feathers like females.

This species’ range has spread out over the years with flocks living across areas of Mexico, Central America, and South America. When breeding, some of these birds appear in the southwestern United States.

Vermilion Flycatcher (Male Has Red Belly and Cap)

• Habitat: Arid scrublands, farmlands, parks, deserts
• Diet: Insects (especially flying ones), other arthropods
• Behavior: They’re typically solitary and territorial.
• Interesting Fact: Males offer females a beautiful insect like a butterfly during the mating season.

Male vermilion flycatchers have stunning red and red-orange feathers across their bellies and the tops of their heads. Then, their wings, backs, and tails are a dark color, along with a dark stripe across their eyes. The females have a much simpler pattern with mostly brown, gray, and white feathers with a small patch of red-orange feathers near their legs.

You can find these stunning red birds across the southern United States and most of Mexico. Throughout most of their range, they stay in the same area year-round. They fly high in the sky, so it may be difficult to spot them. Listen for their sharp, squeaky sounds to help you find them.

Pine Grosbeak (Male Has Reddish-pink Spots)

• Habitat: Open coniferous forests (especially spruce, pine, and fir)
• Diet: Buds, seeds, fruits, vegetable matter
• Behavior: They’re calm and slow-moving, making them less likely to get startled by humans.
• Interesting Fact: They store food paste in pouches inside their jaws to serve to their chicks.

Pine Grosbeaks are gray birds with light reddish pink spots across their head, belly, and back. It almost looks like someone splattered reddish pink paint on them. Females look similar, but their patches are usually light orange and take up less of their bodies.

These birds don’t mind living where it’s cold. They live across Canada year-round, sometimes venturing to the northern United States when they’re not breeding. They also live in northern Europe and Asia.

White-Winged Crossbill (Male Has Light Red Head and Chest)

• Habitat: Coniferous forests (especially spruce and tamarack)
• Diet: Conifer seeds, insects
• Behavior: They wander across forests in flocks rather than staying in one area.
• Interesting Fact: One white-winged crossbill can eat up to 3,000 conifer seeds a day.

The white-winged crossbill has a stunning pattern. The males have light red feathers around their heads and upper bodies. Then, their wings are black with bright white patches while their lower bodies are mostly black with white specks. Females are mostly yellow with dark flecks everywhere. They have black wings with white patches just like the males.

These stunning red birds appear across Canada year-round. When they’re not breeding, they sometimes travel to the northern United States. They have dense, sharp beaks that are perfect for breaking through seeds.

Red-Headed Woodpecker (Bright Red Head)

• Habitat: Open woodlands, forest edges, orchards
• Diet: Insects, spiders, worms, nuts, seeds, berries
• Behavior: They’re solitary, often defending the same territory year-round.
• Interesting Fact: Unlike other woodpeckers, they rarely peck at trees for food, but instead, they catch insects in mid-flight.

As the name implies, these birds are bright red, but only on their heads. The rest of their bodies are black and white. Both males and females have the same color patterns. As juveniles, they have gray and white plumage, but bold red feathers appear on their heads as they mature.

You can find these woodpeckers across the eastern half of the United States. Some stay in the same place year-round while some fly to northern states when breeding and to southern states in the winter. Unlike other woodpeckers, they rarely peck at trees for food, but instead, they catch insects in mid-flight. They may create tree crevices to hide extra food.

“They’re in extreme decline, especially in the Midwest and Great Lakes area, maybe because of habitat loss and changes in their food supply,” said Dr. Henry Streby, assistant professor of environmental sciences and ornithologist. “We’re lucky to have Oak Openings just west of Toledo because it’s a place where red-headed woodpeckers seem to be doing relatively well. We want to figure out what’s working here and see if we can offer recommendations for habitat management elsewhere.”

Red Crossbill (Male Has Red and Orange Patches)

• Habitat: Coniferous woodlands, groves
• Diet: Conifer seeds, buds, berries
• Behavior: They rarely show fear or aggression toward humans, and they wander around in flocks.
• Interesting Fact: The bird’s unique bill shape can cross in either direction.

Red crossbills have dull gray/brown feathers with patches of red and red-orange covering the male’s head and body. The females have yellow patches instead of red ones. These birds have pointy, twisted bills, helping them access seeds more easily.

These birds live across most areas of North America, particularly across Canada and the western United States. However, red crossbills sometimes venture far from their usual range, depending on where they can find abundant food.

House Finch (Males Have Bright Red Face)

• Habitat: Urban areas, backyards, parks, farms, open woodlands
• Diet: Seeds, buds, berries
• Behavior: They’re active during the day, frequently in areas near humans.
• Interesting Fact: House finches have different songs depending on their location, as if they have accents.

House finches are brown birds, but the adult males have bright red feathers around their faces and chests. They’re common across most of Mexico and the United States (including Hawaii). They gather around bird feeders and make charming twittering songs.

If you’re interested in attracting these red birds to your yard, put small, black oil sunflower seeds into your feeders. Once some of these birds discover your feeder, they may bring flocks of 50 or more to enjoy the seeds.

American Robin (Red-orange-bellied Bird)

• Habitat: Woodlands, backyards, parks, grasslands, farms
• Diet: Insects, worms, berries
• Behavior: They hop around on the ground, and they don’t mind being close to humans.
• Interesting Fact: During their migration, robins can travel up to 3,000 miles.

American robins are some of the most common birds to find in North America. They appear across the United States year-round, but they may travel to Canada when breeding or to Mexico during the non-breeding season.

Their migration to Canada has shifted over the years, according to research. “We found that over the past quarter-century (1994–2018), robins have migrated ca. 5 d/decade earlier,” a 2020 study stated.

Both males and females share the same iconic coloring, which includes gray/brown feathers with a bright red or red-orange belly. They’re most commonly seen toward the end of winter, so people view them as a sign that spring has come.

More Red Birds in North America

Did you spot a red bird that doesn’t sound like any of the above species? Here are some more birds with red feathers in North America:

• Common Redpoll
• Pyrrhuloxia
• Red-Faced Warbler
• Red-Tailed Hawk
• Red-Winged Blackbird
• Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Have You Seen Any Red Birds in North America?

With this information in mind, you can more easily identify red birds as you see them. Keep an eye out for birds with beautiful red patterns because they appear across North America more often than you might realize. There’s no doubt that these red birds are a beautiful sight!

Now you’re clued up on all of North America’s red birds, why don’t you check out the Yellow Birds of North America.