Watercolor portrait of Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea
Neotropical migrant Deciduous and mixed forests Common Burry robin-like song

Learn to identify the Scarlet Tanager by ear. Master the "robin-like but burry" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“chick-burr, tree-orr, reeah”

What the Scarlet Tanager sounds like

A medium-sized songbird of the forest canopy. Breeding males are breathtaking: brilliant scarlet-red body with jet-black wings and tail. Females and non-breeding males are a contrasting olive-yellow overall with darker olive-brown wings and tail. The bill is fairly thick and grayish, and the legs are dark. They have a somewhat chunky build and relatively short tail. Often more easily heard than seen, since they dwell high in deciduous trees searching for insects. In autumn, even adult males molt to a yellow-green plumage resembling females. Their presence in summer hardwood forests adds a tropical splash of color.

“robin-like but burry”

How to tell it apart

Listen for:A series of short, sweet phrases that sound similar to an American Robin's song, but with a distinctive hoarse, burry quality – as if the robin had a sore throat. Phrases are 4-5 notes each, often described as "Prettier-pretty-prettiest" or "Cheery-cheery-churr" with the ends of phrases slurred or rough. Males sing from high in trees during spring and early summer, repeating the song every few seconds. Often written as “chick-burr, tree-orr, reeah”.
Don't confuse with:The Summer Tanager — male summer tanagers are all red (no black wings) with a more rose-red or orangey cast. females are more orange-yellow. summers prefer more southern, open woods (like pine-oak and riparian areas) whereas scarlets are more northern/eastern and love mature deciduous forest.

Lessons featuring the Scarlet Tanager

Ready to test your ear? Practice identifying the Scarlet Tanager's sounds in this interactive in-app lesson.

Vireos & Big-Time Singers lesson habitat
Vireos & Big-Time Singers
Tier 4 · Songbirds & Sky Watch
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Where you'll hear it

Deciduous and mixed forests. Prefers large tracts of mature hardwood forest for breeding, especially with oak, maple, beech, etc. Also found in mixed forests with some pines. They tend to stay in the mid to upper canopy, often in more interior parts of forests rather than edges. During migration, they can appear in any woodlot or even parks. Winter is spent in tropical forests of northwestern South America (Andes foothills and Amazonia) where they inhabit mature forests and forest edges.

Arrive on breeding grounds late April (southern areas) to mid-May (north). Males arrive first and establish territories high in the canopy, singing vigorously. Nesting takes place late May through July; the female builds a flimsy cup nest on a tree branch, often far from the trunk. By August, adults stop singing and molt into non-breeding plumage (males turning patchy yellow-green). Fall migration kicks off by late August through September; most are gone by early October. They spend winter in the tropics quietly feeding in flocks. In spring, bright male tanagers return around late April, often still partly in molt to full red plumage. They are one of the later spring migrants to return to eastern forests. Once territories are set, their unmistakable color and song brightens the late spring forest until midsummer.

Similar species

Summer Tanager

Male Summer Tanagers are all red (no black wings) with a more rose-red or orangey cast. Females are more orange-yellow. Summers prefer more southern, open woods (like pine-oak and riparian areas) whereas Scarlets are more northern/eastern and love mature deciduous forest.

Northern Cardinal (female)

Female cardinals are brownish-olive with red tinges and a thick red-orange bill and a crest, and are bulkier. Female Scarlet Tanagers are more lemon-olive, with a thinner pointed gray bill, and no crest.

Scarlet Tanager song FAQ

What does a Scarlet Tanager sound like?
A series of short, sweet phrases that sound similar to an American Robin's song, but with a distinctive hoarse, burry quality – as if the robin had a sore throat. Phrases are 4-5 notes each, often described as "Prettier-pretty-prettiest" or "Cheery-cheery-churr" with the ends of phrases slurred or rough. Males sing from high in trees during spring and early summer, repeating the song every few seconds. Listen for the "robin-like but burry" phrase.
How do I tell a Scarlet Tanager from a Summer Tanager by sound?
Summer Tanager: Male Summer Tanagers are all red (no black wings) with a more rose-red or orangey cast. Females are more orange-yellow. Summers prefer more southern, open woods (like pine-oak and riparian areas) whereas Scarlets are more northern/eastern and love mature deciduous forest.; Summer's song is sweeter and less burry. Geographic range overlaps in the Midwest and South where both can occur, but plumage (black wings or not) distinguishes males; females are trickier, but Summer is usually more orangey without strong contrast in wing color..
When is the best time to hear a Scarlet Tanager?
Arrive on breeding grounds late April (southern areas) to mid-May (north). Males arrive first and establish territories high in the canopy, singing vigorously. Nesting takes place late May through July; the female builds a flimsy cup nest on a tree branch, often far from the trunk. By August, adults stop singing and molt into non-breeding plumage (males turning patchy yellow-green). Fall migration kicks off by late August through September; most are gone by early October. They spend winter in the tropics quietly feeding in flocks. In spring, bright male tanagers return around late April, often still partly in molt to full red plumage. They are one of the later spring migrants to return to eastern forests. Once territories are set, their unmistakable color and song brightens the late spring forest until midsummer.