There exist a variety of red birds known as Finches and Tanagers that are frequently observed. One can identify several different species within this group.
In South Carolina, there have been sightings of 10 species of red birds. Among these, 6 species are regularly seen according to state checklists, while 4 additional species are considered rare or accidental.
Avibase provides a guide to help identify the red bird species in South Carolina. Some of these birds migrate, while others remain in the region throughout the year.
To assist in the identification of visiting birds in your backyard, you can obtain a complimentary bird identification worksheet specifically designed for South Carolina.
The most prevalent red bird in both summer and winter in South Carolina is the Northern Cardinal. Other species like the Painted Bunting and various others are more commonly observed during the summer months. For further details on these red birds, please continue reading.
The following is a list of 10 red bird species found in South Carolina:
1. Northern Cardinal
The Northern Cardinal is a very common red bird in South Carolina throughout the year.
This remarkable bird possesses a red head, body, and tail, with black areas surrounding their faces. Its vibrant appearance against a white winter backdrop is truly captivating. The female Northern Cardinals are equally striking, showcasing brown hues, a distinctive brown crest, red accents, and red beaks.
Size: 8.3-9.1 in (21-23 cm)
Weight: 1.5-1.7 oz (42-48 g)
Wingspan: 9.8-12.2 in (25-31 cm)
Northern Cardinals can be found in the eastern and southern states and often display territorial behavior during the breeding season, occasionally attacking their own reflections.
To attract more Northern Cardinals to your backyard, you can offer them sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, millet, or milo using large tube feeders, hoppers, platform feeders, or by scattering food on the ground.
2. House Finch
The House Finch is a year-round resident of South Carolina.
Male House Finches possess red heads and breasts, while females exhibit brown-streaked plumage.
Size: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)
Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz (16-27 g)
Wingspan: 7.9-9.8 in (20-25 cm)
Initially restricted to western states, the House Finch has successfully expanded into the eastern states, even displacing the Purple Finch.
These birds can be found in parks, farms, forest edges, and backyard feeders. Their noisy group behavior makes them hard to miss.
To attract more House Finches to your backyard, consider providing black oil sunflower seeds or nyjer seeds in tube feeders or platform feeders.
3. Painted Bunting
Although Painted Buntings can be spotted in South Carolina throughout the year, they are more frequently observed during the summer months.
Male Painted Buntings boast a striking patchwork of predominantly red plumage underneath, complemented by bright blue heads, green wings, and backs. Female Painted Buntings exhibit bright yellow-green coloring.
Species: Passerina ciris
Size: 4.7-5.1 in (12-13 cm)
Weight: 0.5-0.7 oz (13-19 g)
Painted Buntings breed in select states within the south-central and coastal areas of the Southeastern United States. They subsequently migrate at night to Central America, southern Florida, and various Caribbean islands.
These birds can be found in semi-open habitats, primarily foraging for seeds and insects during the breeding season.
To attract Painted Buntings to your yard, consider incorporating low, dense vegetation and filling feeders with white millet or black oil sunflower seeds.
4. Summer Tanager
Summer Tanagers can be observed in South Carolina, predominantly from April to October.
Male Summer Tanagers are bright red, while females exhibit yellow plumage.
Species: Piranga rubra
Size: 6.7 in (17 cm)
Weight: 1.1 oz (30 g)
Summer Tanagers breed in the southern and eastern states before migrating to Central and South America for the winter.
As forest-dwelling songbirds, they are commonly found in open woodlands and feed on bees and wasps mid-flight. They dispatch their prey by beating them against a branch, removing the stinger, and subsequently consuming them.
To attract more Summer Tanagers to your backyard, consider incorporating berry bushes and fruit trees.
5. Purple Finch
During winter in South Carolina, Purple Finches are enjoyable red birds to spot.
Purple Finches bear a resemblance to House Finches, with reddish-purple heads and breasts, but with more brown coloring on their backs and wings.
Size: 4.7-6.3 in (12-16 cm)
Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz (18-32 g)
Wingspan: 8.7-10.2 in (22-26 cm)
They breed in Canada and migrate to eastern states for the winter. However, they can be found year-round in the northeastern region and along the Pacific coast.
These birds can be spotted in evergreen forests, feeding on seeds, buds, nectar, and berries.
Purple Finches readily visit feeders offering black oil sunflower seeds.
6. Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanagers are not particularly common in South Carolina, but they can be spotted during the summer season.
Scarlet Tanagers are bright red birds with black wings and tails, while females exhibit yellow coloring with darker wings and tails.
Species: Piranga olivacea
Size: 6.3-6.7 in (16-17 cm)
Weight: 0.8-1.3 oz (23-38 g)
Wingspan: 9.8-11.4 in (25-29 cm)
They breed in eastern forests during the summer before migrating to South America.
Scarlet Tanagers tend to remain high in the forest canopy, making them challenging to spot.
To attract more Scarlet Tanagers, consider planting berry plants such as blackberries, raspberries, huckleberries, juneberries, serviceberries, mulberries, strawberries, and chokeberries.
7. Red Crossbill
Red Crossbills are considered accidental species in South Carolina, but they have been spotted in Kings Mountain National Military Park and Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area.
Male Red Crossbills are red birds with darker wings and tails, while females exhibit yellow and brown coloring.
These birds can be found year-round in northern and western states, with winter populations extending into eastern states.
They feed on conifer seeds and move in flocks from tree to tree, using their powerful beaks to break open unopened cones. They can also be found consuming grit along roadsides in the mornings.
8. Common Redpoll
Common Redpolls are also considered accidental or rare species in South Carolina. However, they have been observed in Horrel Hill and a few other locations near the West Columbia Riverwalk Park and Amphitheater.
Common Redpolls possess red foreheads, pinkish breasts, and a mixture of brown and white plumage across the rest of their bodies.
Species: Acanthis flammea
Size: 4.7-5.5 in (12-14 cm)
Weight: 0.4-0.7 oz (11-20 g)
Wingspan: 7.5-8.7 in (19-22 cm)
They are typically found in winter in northern states, albeit less frequently in central states.
During winter nights, they sometimes burrow into the snow to keep warm. They can consume up to 42% of their body mass daily and have the ability to store up to 2 grams of seeds in a stretchy part of their esophagus.
Common Redpolls can be found in weedy fields or feeding on catkins in trees. They also visit feeders for small seeds like nyjer seeds or thistle.
9. White-winged Crossbill
White-winged Crossbills are accidental species in South Carolina and are incredibly rare. They have only been sighted in Forest Acres.
These finches possess distinctive crossed beaks. Male White-winged Crossbills are red birds with black wings and tails, along with two white wingbars. Females exhibit yellow and brown coloring, also with two white wingbars.
Species: Loxia leucoptera
Size: 5.9-6.7 in (15-17 cm)
Weight: 0.8-0.9 oz (24-26 g)
Wingspan: 10.2-11.0 in (26-28 cm)
White-winged Crossbills primarily inhabit forests in Canada, Alaska, and occasionally northern US states when cone crops are scarce. They feed on seeds in spruce forests.
Remarkably, these birds breed throughout the year as long as sufficient food is available.
They often form large flocks and emit distinctive calls.
10. Pine Grosbeak
Pine Grosbeaks are considered accidental species in South Carolina. They are exceptionally rare, with only one reported sighting.
Pine Grosbeaks are finches characterized by gray wings and tail, along with two white wingbars in males. Females possess gray plumage with dull orange heads and rumps. These birds are relatively large for finches and exhibit a slower flight pattern.
Species: Pinicola enucleator
Size: 7.9-9.8 in (20-25 cm)
Wingspan: 13.0 in (33 cm)
Pine Grosbeaks primarily inhabit forests of pine, spruce, and fir, feeding on seeds, fruit, and buds from these trees. They also consume some insects during the summer season.
To attract Pine Grosbeaks, provide black oil sunflower seeds or suet feeders.
Frequency of Red Bird Sightings in South Carolina During Summer and Winter
Checklists compiled for South Carolina are a valuable resource to determine which birds are commonly sighted. These lists indicate the red bird species most frequently recorded on ebird checklists for South Carolina during summer and winter.
Common Red Birds in South Carolina During Summer:
– Northern Cardinal: 66.6%
– House Finch: 26.6%
– Painted Bunting: 15.4%
– Summer Tanager: 14.6%
– Scarlet Tanager: 1.9%
– Purple Finch: <0.1%
– Red Crossbill: <0.1%
– Common Redpoll: <0.1%
Common Red Birds in South Carolina During Winter:
– Northern Cardinal: 58.4%
– House Finch: 26.3%
– Purple Finch: 4.5%
– Painted Bunting: 0.7%
– Summer Tanager: <0.1%
– Red Crossbill: <0.1%
– White-winged Crossbill: <0.1%
– Common Redpoll: <0.1%