Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Audubon Illustration

John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.

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About the Scarlet Tanager

The scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea) is a medium-sized American songbird in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). It was placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae) until 2009, but was moved to Cardinalidae following several genetic studies indicating the Piranga tanagers are more closely related to cardinals and their allies. Breeding males have bright red plumage with black wings and tails, while females are yellow-olive. Outside the breeding season, males develop plumage similar to that of females, although their wings and tails remain darker. The species breeds mainly in large deciduous forests in eastern North America. It migrates through Central America to spend the winter in forests along the Andean foothills of northwestern South America.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name: Piranga olivacea
Family: Cardinals and Allies
Order: Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the cardinals and allies family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

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