Tanagers are unmistakable with their bright, flashy plumage. The trick is spotting them, as these inconspicuous birds spend most of their time in the canopy, hidden behind dense foliage. But with enough patience and an ear tuned to their call, you might be able to spot one moving slowly through the branches.
When you do spot a tanager, this guide will help you identify which species it is. We’ll cover the four common tanagers of North America, and you’ll learn about their range, habitat, and calls.
You’ll also meet a rare species that sometimes visits the Southwest but is more common in Mexico. Before we meet each bird, let’s briefly discuss what unites these birds under the common name “tanager.”
What are Tanagers?
All the Tanagers in North America—specifically the United States and Canada—are closely related. They all belong to the same genus, Piranga, and are in the Cardinalidae, or Cardinalfamily.
Because they’re in the Cardinal family, the tanagers of North America are not “true” Tanagers. They used to belong to the true tanager family, Thraupidae. However, scientists recently discovered that their DNA is more closely related to birds in the Cardinal family.
True tanagers occupy the tropics; there are no true tanagers in North America (except perhaps southern Mexico). Nevertheless, they still share the common “tanager” name.
The tanagers of North America are similar in that the males all have bright red to orange plumage. They also have thick, slightly curved beaks. This distinct beak shape allows them to feed on fruits and large insects.
They are all migratory species, coming here to breed in the spring and summer and departing to the tropics in early fall. These birds are late-spring migrants, with some not arriving until late June.
Guide to Tanagers in North America
1. Western Tanager
Range: The Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) breeds throughout western North America, from Arizona up to western Montana and over to the Pacific Coast states.
Habitat: While breeding, this species prefer high-elevation mountain conifer or mixed forests. They’re often found in spruce, pine, fir, and aspen forests. During migration, you can find them in a variety of habitats, including deserts, prairies, and lower-elevation forests.
Description: The male Western Tanager is striking, with an orange to red head and bright yellow chest and underside. His wings are black with white and yellow markings. The female is a duller yellow overall with grey-tan wings. Females can be mistaken for female orioles, but tanagers have a thicker, larger bill.
Call: It sounds similar to a robin’s but raspier and more clipped. Listen to their call [here] to familiarize yourself.
2. Scarlet Tanager
Range: While breeding, the Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) is found in the north-central and northeastern United States. They breed from Minnesota down to northern Arkansas, over to the northern tip of South Carolina, and up to Maine. They migrate through the central and eastern Southern states.
Habitat: Look for these birds in oak, maple, and beech woodlands or mixed pine-oak stands. They prefer shady deciduous forests but will sometimes breed in pine and hemlock woods.
Description: The male’s breeding plumage is spectacular. He is bright red all over with stunning black wings. The female is less distinct, with grey-yellow plumage and tan-grey wings. Like other female tanagers, she can be mistaken for a female oriole. Check the bill size for proper identification.
Call: They sounds very similar to robins, but the rhythm is faster, more blurred, and slightly nasally. Listen to their call [here] to familiarize yourself.
3. Summer Tanager
Range: Throughout the late spring and summer, the Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) breeds across the southern United States and northern Mexico. It is common from southeastern New Mexico, across Texas, and up to Missouri—its northernmost range. From there, its range stretches to the East Coast.
Habitat: This species prefers mixed, dry woodlands, especially those with oak, pine, and hickory. In the Southwest, they’re common in cottonwood-willow stands along streams.
Description: Look for a bright, rosy-red male moving slowly through the treetops. Males are red all over, and the females are dark yellow overall. Where species overlap, female Summer Tanagers can be mistaken for female Scarlet Tanagers. However, female Scarlet Tanagers have a paler yellow belly and head, with grey-green wings. Plus, the bill of the Summer Tanager is much thicker.
Call: Like other tanager calls, this species sounds similar to a robin. However, its rhythm is more drawn out, with a softer tone. Listen to their calls [here] to familiarize yourself.
4. Hepatic Tanager
Range: The Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava) breeds in the mountainous and forested regions of New Mexico and Arizona. Some stray into California and occasionally winter there. These birds winter in parts of northern Mexico, making them short-range migrants.
Habitat: These southwestern birds prefer open pine and oak forests. You can find them in mountain forests and canyons at mid-elevations, as well as pinyon pine groves at lower elevations.
Description: The Hepatic Tanager gets its common name from its duller red-orange color, similar to that of the liver. Males are orange-red all over, with some darker grey streaks on their wings. Females have a yellow head and belly, a grey-yellow back, and yellow wings with grey markings.
Call: Their call ranges from a fast-paced, rhythmic robin-like song to a steady chuck-chuck-chuck. Listen to their calls [here] to familiarize yourself.
5. Flame-Colored Tanager
Range: The Flame-Colored Tanager (Piranga bidentata) is a rare visitor to Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains. It is a year-long resident of Mexico and Central America. According to Audubon Field Guide, “… this tanager was never found in our area until 1985, when a male spent the breeding season… paired with a female Western Tanager. Since then the species has appeared several more times in Arizona and has nested there more than once.”
Habitat: This species prefer mountainous forests in their native range, especially woods of oak and pine. They also occur on forest edges near roadsides, pastures, farms, gardens, and coffee plantations.
Description: The males are a vibrant red or orange on their head and underside. They have distinct dark grey to black markings on their back and black wings with white bars. The females are yellow on their head and underside. Like the males, they have dark back markings and black wings with white wingbars.
The females of this species can be confused with female Western Tanagers. However, Flame-Colored Tanagers have bold black wings, while Western Tanagers have grey wings and no black markings on the back.
Call: Their call sounds similar to the Western Tanager’s, but slower. Listen to their calls [here] to familiarize yourself.
The Beautiful Tanagers of North America
Despite there being only four common tanager species in North America, they are among the most memorable birds to see. With their bright orange to red plumage and stunning dark wings, they are some of the most beautiful birds in the United States and Canada.
The hardest part is actually seeing them, as they spend most of their time high in the treetops. But if you’re patient and determined, you’re sure to spot one. Make sure to familiarize yourself with their calls and hone in on the identification details described in this guide.
How many tanagers on this list have you spotted? Share a time you got to witness these beautiful birds in the comments below!
