Spotting Red Birds in Louisiana is a breeze due to their vibrant hues, but can you discern a Finch from a Tanager?
Louisiana boasts a total of 10 distinct species of red birds, with 6 being commonly observed throughout the year as per state checklists. Additionally, 3 species are considered rare or accidental, while 1 is classified as an introduced species.
This comprehensive guide, drawing information from avibase, will assist you in identifying the various red bird species found in Louisiana. Keep in mind that some of these avian creatures migrate, while others remain year-round residents.
To aid in the identification of avian visitors to your backyard, you can print a complimentary bird identification worksheet designed specifically for Louisiana.
The most prevalent red bird in Louisiana, whether it be summer or winter, is the Northern Cardinal. Summer Tanagers and Painted Buntings are more frequently sighted during the summertime, while several species are exclusive to Louisiana’s winter season. Continue reading to uncover the identities of these exclusive winter visitors.
List of 10 Red Birds in Louisiana:
1. Northern Cardinal
The Northern Cardinal stands out as the most frequently encountered red bird in Louisiana all year round.
Dressed in a brilliant red coat, the male Northern Cardinal flaunts its crimson head, body, and tail, with a contrasting black facial region. It is truly a breathtaking sight, especially against a snowy winter backdrop. The females are equally impressive, donning brown feathers, a distinctive crest, reddish highlights, and a crimson beak.
Size: 8.3-9.1 inches (21-23 cm)
Weight: 1.5-1.7 ounces (42-48 g)
Wingspan: 9.8-12.2 inches (25-31 cm)
Northern Cardinals can be found in the eastern and southern regions of the United States, and during the breeding season, they are known to fiercely defend their territories, often mistaking their reflection for an intruder.
To attract more Northern Cardinals to your backyard, consider offering sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, millet, and milo in your feeders. They will happily visit tube feeders, hoppers, platform feeders, or even forage on food scattered on the ground.
2. House Finch
Louisiana is home to introduced House Finches, which can be spotted throughout the year.
The males of the House Finch feature a reddish head and breast, while the females exhibit brown-streaked plumage.
Size: 5.1-5.5 inches (13-14 cm)
Weight: 0.6-0.9 ounces (16-27 g)
Wingspan: 7.9-9.8 inches (20-25 cm)
Originally prevalent in western states, House Finches were successfully introduced to eastern regions, even outcompeting the Purple Finch in some areas. You can find them in parks, farms, forest edges, and of course, your backyard feeders. These social birds often form noisy groups that are difficult to overlook.
To attract House Finches to your backyard, provide black oil sunflower seeds or nyjer seeds in tube or platform feeders.
3. Summer Tanager
Summer Tanagers are year-round residents of Louisiana, although they are more commonly seen during the summer and fall, specifically from April to November.
The male Summer Tanager displays striking red plumage, while the females boast a yellow hue.
Scientific Name: Piranga rubra
Size: 6.7 inches (17 cm)
Weight: 1.1 ounce (30 g)
Summer Tanagers breed in the southern and eastern parts of the United States, and during winter, they migrate to Central and South America. These forest-dwelling songbirds have a unique feeding habit, capturing bees and wasps mid-flight, and dispatching them by striking them against a branch and removing the stinger before devouring their prey.
To attract more Summer Tanagers to your backyard, consider planting berry bushes and fruit trees.
4. Painted Bunting
While Painted Buntings can be spotted in Louisiana year-round, they are most commonly observed during the summer season.
Male Painted Buntings flaunt a vibrant mosaic of colors, with shades of red dominating the lower half, complemented by vivid blue heads, green wings, and backs. The females, on the other hand, exhibit a bright yellow-green appearance.
Scientific Name: Passerina ciris
Size: 4.7-5.1 inches (12-13 cm)
Weight: 0.5-0.7 ounces (13-19 g)
Painted Buntings breed in specific states within the south-central and coastal areas of the Southeastern United States. They undertake nocturnal migrations to Central America, southern Florida, and select Caribbean islands.
You can find Painted Buntings in semi-open habitats, predominantly foraging for seeds and insects during the breeding season. To attract these colorful creatures to your yard, consider incorporating low, dense vegetation and feeders filled with white millet or black oil sunflower seeds.
5. Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanagers, while not particularly common in Louisiana, can be observed during their spring and fall migrations.
Scarlet Tanagers sport a bright red plumage with black wings and tails. Female Scarlet Tanagers possess yellow feathers with darker wings and tails.
Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea
Size: 6.3-6.7 inches (16-17 cm)
Weight: 0.8-1.3 ounces (23-38 g)
Wingspan: 9.8-11.4 inches (25-29 cm)
During the summer, Scarlet Tanagers breed in eastern forests before embarking on a migration journey to South America. Their preference for remaining high in the forest canopy makes them somewhat challenging to spot.
To attract more Scarlet Tanagers, consider cultivating berry-producing plants such as blackberries, raspberries, huckleberries, juneberries, serviceberries, mulberries, strawberries, and chokeberries.
6. Purple Finch
Purple Finches, although rare in Louisiana, can be sighted during the winter months.
Purple Finches bear a resemblance to House Finches, with reddish-purple heads and breasts, complemented by brown tones on their backs and wings.
Size: 4.7-6.3 inches (12-16 cm)
Weight: 0.6-1.1 ounces (18-32 g)
Wingspan: 8.7-10.2 inches (22-26 cm)
Purple Finches breed in Canada and spend their winters in the eastern United States. However, they can be found year-round along the northeastern and Pacific coasts. Evergreen forests serve as their preferred habitat, where they forage on seeds, buds, nectar, and berries.
To spot Purple Finches, keep an eye out for them near your feeders, particularly if you offer black oil sunflower seeds.
7. Pyrrhuloxia
Pyrrhuloxias are considered accidental species in Louisiana, although a few have been sighted near Lake Arthur.
Male Pyrrhuloxias possess a gray body with prominent red features on their face, crest, breast, and tail. The females, on the other hand, exhibit dull gray feathers with less red coloring.
Scientific Name: Cardinalis sinuatus
Size: 8.3 inches (21 cm)
Weight: 0.8-1.5 ounces (24-43 g)
Pyrrhuloxias are primarily residents of the hot deserts in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico. During the breeding season, they fiercely defend their territories, but during winter, they can be found in flocks of up to 1000 individuals.
Pyrrhuloxias primarily feed on seeds, but they also consume insects. You may find them visiting feeders with sunflower seeds, although they tend to prefer scattered seeds on the ground.
8. Red Crossbill
Red Crossbills are classified as accidental or rare species in Louisiana, although they have been spotted near New Roads.
Male Red Crossbills are characterized by their red plumage, accentuated by darker wings and tails. Females, on the other hand, exhibit yellow and brown feathers.
Red Crossbills can be found year-round in northern and western states, with winter populations observed in eastern regions.
These birds have a diet centered around conifer seeds and display an interesting foraging behavior, moving from tree to tree in flocks and using their powerful beaks to pry open unopened cones. In addition to coniferous forests, they can also be found along roadsides, where they consume grit in the mornings.
9. Cassin’s Finch
Cassin’s Finches are exceedingly rare in Louisiana, with only two sightings recorded near Lake Charles.
Cassin’s Finches feature a red crown, rosy pink head, red breasts, whiteish bellies, and brown backs and wings.
Size: 6.3 inches (16 cm)
Weight: 0.8-1.2 ounces (24-34 g)
Wingspan: 9.8-10.6 inches (25-27 cm)
These finches can be found in mountainous forests across western states, where they forage for seeds in flocks. They are not as commonly observed in backyards compared to House or Purple Finches. However, you may attract them with sunflower seed feeders, especially during winter, or by planting fruiting shrubs such as cotoneaster, mulberries, firethorn, grapes, and apples.
10. Hepatic Tanager
Hepatic Tanagers are accidental species in Louisiana, with sightings reported near the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge.
Male Hepatic Tanagers exhibit red plumage with some gray on their backs, while females display a yellow appearance.
Scientific Name: Piranga flava
Size: 3.5-7.9 inches (8.8-20 cm)
Weight: 0.8-1.7 ounces (23-47 g)
Wingspan: 12.6 inches (32 cm)
Hepatic Tanagers breed in southwestern states and Mexico, spending their winters in Mexico, Central, and South America. They can be found in mountainous areas with pine or pine and oak woodlands, where they feed on insects and spiders. Additionally, they incorporate berries such as cherry and grapes into their diet.
Frequency of Red Bird Sightings in Louisiana During Summer and Winter
To determine which red birds are commonly observed in Louisiana, checklists compiled by ebird are an excellent resource. These checklists provide insights into the prevalence of various red bird species during summer and winter.
Common Red Birds in Louisiana During Summer:
– Northern Cardinal: 65.8%
– House Finch: 18.3%
– Summer Tanager: 15.7%
– Painted Bunting: 14.2%
– Scarlet Tanager: 1.8%
– Purple Finch: <0.1%
– Hepatic Tanager: <0.1%
Common Red Birds in Louisiana During Winter:
– Northern Cardinal: 59.3%
– House Finch: 15.5%
– Purple Finch: 5.8%
– Painted Bunting: 0.4%
– Summer Tanager: 0.3%
– Pyrrhuloxia: <0.1%
– Red Crossbill: <0.1%
– Scarlet Tanager: <0.1%