Spotting red birds is a breeze thanks to their vibrant colors, but can you differentiate between a finch and a tanager in Tennessee?
Tennessee boasts a remarkable ten species of red birds, and out of these, seven species are frequently observed based on state checklists, while three additional species are classified as rare or accidental.
For your convenience, this guide, inspired by avibase, will aid you in identifying the various species of red birds in Tennessee. Keep in mind that some of these avian creatures migrate, while others remain in the area year-round.
To assist you in identifying the birds that grace your backyard, we offer a printable bird identification worksheet specifically tailored for Tennessee, completely free of charge.
The most prevalent red bird in Tennessee, both during the summer and winter months, is the Northern Cardinal. In the summertime, the Summer Tanager can be commonly sighted, while other species tend to be more prevalent during the winter season. For additional details on these fascinating red birds, read on.
Let’s take a closer look at the ten red birds you can find in Tennessee:
1. Northern Cardinal
These striking red birds, known as Northern Cardinals, are a common sight in Tennessee throughout the year.
With their crimson heads, bodies, and tails, accented by black around their faces, male Northern Cardinals present a breathtaking spectacle, particularly against a snow-covered backdrop. Female Northern Cardinals are equally impressive, displaying brown hues, distinctive crests, and reddish highlights, all accentuated by their red beaks.
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)
These avian creatures can be found in the eastern and southern regions of the United States. During the breeding season, male Northern Cardinals might even engage in territorial disputes, attacking their own reflections.
To attract more Northern Cardinals to your backyard, provide them with sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, millet, or milo. They will gladly feed from large tube feeders, hoppers, platform feeders, or scattered food on the ground.
2. House Finch
House Finches, delightful red birds, can be spotted year-round in Tennessee.
Male House Finches feature reddish heads and breasts, while 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 limited to western states, House Finches have successfully expanded their presence to eastern states, even surpassing the Purple Finch. You can find them in parks, farms, forest edges, and, of course, backyard feeders. Keep an ear out for their lively group vocalizations.
To attract House Finches, offer black oil sunflower seeds or nyjer seeds in tube or platform feeders.
3. Summer Tanager
Between April and October, keep an eye out for Summer Tanagers in Tennessee.
Male Summer Tanagers display a vibrant red plumage, while females sport a yellow hue.
Scientific name: Piranga rubra
Size: 6.7 inches (17 cm)
Weight: 1.1 ounces (30 g)
Summer Tanagers breed in southern and eastern states before embarking on their winter migration to Central and South America. These woodland songbirds primarily feed on bees and wasps, capturing them mid-flight and dispatching them by striking them against branches to remove the stingers before consuming them.
To attract more Summer Tanagers to your backyard, consider planting berry bushes and fruit trees.
4. Scarlet Tanager
While not as prevalent, Scarlet Tanagers can be spotted in Tennessee during the summer months.
Scarlet Tanagers are red birds with black wings and tails, with females showcasing yellow coloring and 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)
These avian creatures breed in eastern forests during the summer and migrate to South America afterward. Due to their preference for the forest canopy, they can be somewhat challenging to spot.
To attract Scarlet Tanagers, consider introducing berry plants such as blackberries, raspberries, huckleberries, juneberries, serviceberries, mulberries, strawberries, and chokeberries.
5. Purple Finch
During the winter months, keep an eye out for the beautiful Purple Finch in Tennessee.
Purple Finches share similar characteristics with House Finches, boasting reddish-purple heads and breasts with brown accents 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)
These finches breed in Canada and migrate to eastern states for the winter, although some individuals can be found year-round in the northeast and along the Pacific coast. Look for them in evergreen forests, where they feed on seeds, buds, nectar, and berries.
To attract Purple Finches, provide black oil sunflower seeds in your feeders.
6. Red Crossbill
While rare, Red Crossbills can be spotted throughout the year in Tennessee.
Male Red Crossbills exhibit red plumage with darker wings and tails, while females showcase yellow and brown hues.
These birds can be found year-round in northern and western states, migrating to eastern states during winter.
Red Crossbills primarily feed on conifer seeds, using their powerful beaks to break unopened cones as they forage from tree to tree. Interestingly, they also consume grit from roadsides in the morning.
7. Painted Bunting
Painted Buntings are a rarity in Tennessee, but you may catch a glimpse of them during the summer, primarily in Memphis.
Male Painted Buntings sport a vibrant blend of colors, with red dominating their underparts, bright blue adorning their heads, and green covering their wings and backs. Females feature a bright yellow-green plumage.
Scientific name: Passerina ciris
Size: 4.7-5.1 inches (12-13 cm)
Weight: 0.5-0.7 ounces (13-19 g)
These buntings breed in specific states within the south-central and southeastern regions of the United States before embarking on their migratory journey to Central America, southern Florida, and some Caribbean islands.
To attract Painted Buntings, consider incorporating low, dense vegetation and filling feeders with white millet or black oil sunflower seeds.
8. Common Redpoll
Considered an accidental species in Tennessee, the Common Redpoll has been sporadically spotted in Nashville and Chattanooga during winter.
Common Redpolls feature red foreheads, pinkish breasts, and a mixture of brown and white throughout their bodies.
Scientific name: Acanthis flammea
Size: 4.7-5.5 inches (12-14 cm)
Weight: 0.4-0.7 ounces (11-20 g)
Wingspan: 7.5-8.7 inches (19-22 cm)
These birds typically winter in northern states and occasionally in central states. They exhibit fascinating behaviors, such as tunneling into snow for warmth during the night. Common Redpolls have a voracious appetite, consuming up to 42% of their body mass daily and storing up to 2 grams of seeds in their stretchy esophagus.
They can be found in weedy fields or feeding on catkins in trees. To attract them, offer small seeds like nyjer seeds or thistle in feeders.
9. White-winged Crossbill
White-winged Crossbills are considered accidental or rare species in Tennessee, with a few sporadic sightings near Mountain City over the past decade.
These finches possess crossed beaks and exhibit sexual dimorphism. Males display red plumage with black wings and tails, adorned by two white wingbars, while females exhibit yellow and brown coloring, also with two white wingbars.
Scientific name: Loxia leucoptera
Size: 5.9-6.7 inches (15-17 cm)
Weight: 0.8-0.9 ounces (24-26 g)
Wingspan: 10.2-11.0 inches (26-28 cm)
White-winged Crossbills reside in forests across Canada, Alaska, and occasionally northern US states when cone crops are scarce. They primarily feed on seeds found in spruce forests. Unusually, these birds breed throughout the year as long as there is an adequate food supply.
Their distinctive calls often echo through the air when they gather in large flocks.
10. Pine Grosbeak
Pine Grosbeaks are an accidental species in Tennessee, with only one sighting near the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge.
Pine Grosbeaks, a type of finch, feature red plumage in males, with gray accents on the wings and tail, and two white wingbars. Females possess gray plumage with dull orange heads and rumps. These finches are relatively large and exhibit slower movements.
Scientific name: Pinicola enucleator
Size: 7.9-9.8 inches (20-25 cm)
Wingspan: 13.0 inches (33 cm)
While predominantly found in Canada, some Pine Grosbeaks can be spotted near the US border, in the mountainous western regions, and the Sierra Nevada in California. They inhabit forests of pine, spruce, and fir, feasting on seeds, fruit, buds, and occasional insects during the summer.
To attract Pine Grosbeaks, provide black oil sunflower seeds or suet feeders.
Frequency of Red Bird Sightings in Tennessee During Summer and Winter
Consulting checklists for the state can provide valuable insights into the common red birds observed in Tennessee. The following lists highlight the red birds most frequently recorded on eBird checklists for Tennessee during the summer and winter seasons:
Common Red Birds in Tennessee During Summer:
– Northern Cardinal: 66.1%
– House Finch: 30.7%
– Summer Tanager: 15.8%
– Scarlet Tanager: 10.5%
– Painted Bunting: 0.3%
– Red Crossbill: 0.2%
– Purple Finch: 0.1%
Common Red Birds in Tennessee During Winter:
– Northern Cardinal: 57.2%
– House Finch: 30.6%
– Purple Finch: 5.9%
– Red Crossbill: 0.1%
– Common Redpoll: <0.1%
– Painted Bunting: <0.1%
– Summer Tanager: <0.1%
– Scarlet Tanager: <0.1%
– White-winged Crossbill: <0.1%