Red avian creatures bring a burst of joy to your day, so ensure you acquaint yourself with the full array of crimson-feathered fowl that grace your surroundings.
West Virginia boasts the sighting of ten distinct species of red birds. Among these, eight species are regularly documented on state checklists, while an additional two are considered rare or accidental occurrences.
This comprehensive manual will serve as your guide to identifying the various red bird species that inhabit West Virginia, as per the esteemed resource Avibase. Some of these avian beings engage in migratory journeys, while others remain steadfast residents throughout the year.
For assistance in identifying the avian visitors to your backyard, you can acquire a complimentary worksheet dedicated to bird identification in West Virginia.
The Northern Cardinal holds the title of the most prevalent red bird, making appearances during both summer and winter in West Virginia. The Scarlet Tanager tends to be more frequently observed in the summer, while several other species are commonly spotted during the winter months. Continue reading to unveil further revelations about these delightful crimson-feathered creatures.
List of Ten Red Birds in West Virginia:
1. Northern Cardinal
The Northern Cardinal, a frequent red bird sight in West Virginia year-round, is a striking creature with a red head, body, and tail, adorned with black accents around its facial features. These splendid birds are especially captivating when juxtaposed against a wintry white backdrop. The females, too, display their own splendor with their brown plumage, distinctive brown crests, and flashes of red, complemented by their crimson beaks.
Dimensions: 8.3-9.1 in (21-23 cm) in length, weighing 1.5-1.7 oz (42-48 g), with a wingspan of 9.8-12.2 in (25-31 cm). Northern Cardinals inhabit the eastern and southern regions of the United States, occasionally exhibiting aggressive behavior during the breeding season as they tirelessly protect their territories.
To attract a greater number of Northern Cardinals to your backyard feeders, consider offering them sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, millet, or milo. These vibrant birds will readily dine on large tube feeders, hoppers, platform feeders, or food scattered on the ground.
2. House Finch
The House Finch, seen throughout the year in West Virginia, particularly during the winter season, possesses a reddish head and breast in males, while females feature streaked brown plumage.
Dimensions: Measuring 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm) in length, with a weight of 0.6-0.9 oz (16-27 g) and a wingspan of 7.9-9.8 in (20-25 cm), House Finches were originally confined to western states but have since thrived in eastern states, even supplanting the Purple Finch.
These sociable birds can be found in parks, farms, forest edges, and backyard feeders. They often congregate in noisy groups, making them quite conspicuous.
To attract more House Finches to your backyard feeders, offer black oil sunflower seeds or nyjer seeds in tube feeders or platform feeders.
3. Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanagers, exquisite red birds, grace the summer skies of West Virginia.
Scarlet Tanagers are resplendent creatures with bright red plumage and contrasting black wings and tails. Females display yellow hues alongside darker wings and tails.
Scientific name: Piranga olivacea
Dimensions: Measuring 6.3-6.7 in (16-17 cm) in length, with a weight of 0.8-1.3 oz (23-38 g) and a wingspan of 9.8-11.4 in (25-29 cm), Scarlet Tanagers breed in the eastern forests during summer before embarking on their migratory journey to South America.
As these avian beauties tend to dwell high in the forest canopy, spotting them may prove challenging.
To attract more Scarlet Tanagers, consider cultivating berry plants such as blackberries, raspberries, huckleberries, juneberries, serviceberries, mulberries, strawberries, and chokeberries.
4. Purple Finch
Purple Finches, while not as prevalent in West Virginia, reside there year-round.
Purple Finches bear a striking resemblance to House Finches, sporting reddish-purple heads and breasts, with additional brown shades adorning their backs and wings.
Dimensions: Measuring 4.7-6.3 in (12-16 cm) in length, with a weight of 0.6-1.1 oz (18-32 g) and a wingspan of 8.7-10.2 in (22-26 cm), Purple Finches breed in Canada and migrate to eastern states for winter, although they can be found throughout the year in the northeastern United States and along the Pacific coast.
These finches can be spotted in evergreen forests, where they indulge in seeds, buds, nectar, and berries.
Purple Finches readily flock to feeders containing black oil sunflower seeds.
5. Summer Tanager
Summer Tanagers, while rare in West Virginia, make appearances between May and October.
Male Summer Tanagers exhibit vibrant red plumage, while females flaunt a yellow hue.
Scientific name: Piranga rubra
Dimensions: Measuring 6.7 in (17 cm) in length, with a weight of 1.1 oz (30 g), Summer Tanagers breed in the southern and eastern states before embarking on their winter sojourn to Central and South America.
These songbirds inhabit open woodlands, relying on bees and wasps as their mid-flight meals. They catch their prey, vigorously beating them against branches to remove the stingers before consumption.
To entice more Summer Tanagers to your backyard, consider planting berry bushes and fruit trees.
6. Red Crossbill
While Red Crossbills are not commonly sighted in West Virginia, they have been sporadically observed throughout the year, primarily in Monongahela National Forest.
Male Red Crossbills possess red plumage with darker wings and tails, while females display yellow and brown hues.
These birds can be found year-round in the northern and western states, with winter visits to eastern states.
Red Crossbills sustain themselves by feeding on conifer seeds. They traverse from tree to tree in flocks, utilizing their powerful beaks to pry open unopened cones. Alongside coniferous forests, they can also be seen gathering grit along roadsides in the mornings.
7. Common Redpoll
Another infrequent visitor to West Virginia is the Common Redpoll, with reported sightings in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge during winter.
Common Redpolls exhibit red foreheads, pinkish breasts, and a blend of brown and white plumage elsewhere on their bodies.
Scientific name: Acanthis flammea
Dimensions: Measuring 4.7-5.5 in (12-14 cm) in length, with a weight of 0.4-0.7 oz (11-20 g) and a wingspan of 7.5-8.7 in (19-22 cm), Common Redpolls primarily winter in northern states and occasionally in central states.
During winter nights, they may burrow into the snow to maintain warmth. Astonishingly, these resilient birds can consume up to 42% of their body mass daily and store up to 2 grams of seeds in a stretchy part of their esophagus.
Common Redpolls can be spotted in weedy fields or feeding on catkins in trees. They are also attracted to feeders containing small seeds such as nyjer seeds or thistle.
8. White-winged Crossbill
White-winged Crossbills are exceedingly rare in West Virginia, yet sightings have occurred in Fairmont and Elkins.
White-winged Crossbills belong to the finch family and are characterized by their distinctive crossed beaks. Males feature red plumage with black wings, tails, and two white wingbars, while females exhibit yellow, brown, and two white wingbars.
Scientific name: Loxia leucoptera
Dimensions: Measuring 5.9-6.7 in (15-17 cm) in length, with a weight of 0.8-0.9 oz (24-26 g) and a wingspan of 10.2-11.0 in (26-28 cm), White-winged Crossbills primarily inhabit forests in Canada and Alaska, occasionally venturing into northern U.S. states when food sources are scarce further north. They sustain themselves by feeding on seeds in spruce forests.
Notably, these birds exhibit the unique behavior of breeding at any time of year, provided there is an ample food supply. Their presence is often accompanied by distinctive flock calls.
9. Painted Bunting
Painted Buntings are classified as accidental species in West Virginia. Spotting these elusive birds proves challenging, with sightings limited to Marlinton over the past decade.
Male Painted Buntings present a splendid tapestry of colors, primarily donning red plumage underneath, accompanied by vivid blue heads, green wings, and backs. Females display bright yellow-green plumage.
Scientific name: Passerina ciris
Dimensions: Measuring 4.7-5.1 in (12-13 cm) in length, with a weight of 0.5-0.7 oz (13-19 g), Painted Buntings breed in select states within the south-central and southeastern regions of the United States before embarking on nocturnal migrations to Central America, southern Florida, and certain Caribbean islands.
You may find Painted Buntings in semi-open habitats, where they forage for seeds and insects during the breeding season.
To attract Painted Buntings to your yard, consider incorporating low, dense vegetation and offering feeders filled with white millet or black oil sunflower seeds.
10. Pine Grosbeak
Pine Grosbeaks are considered accidental or rare sightings in West Virginia, with only a few reported occurrences within Monongahela National Forest.
Pine Grosbeaks, belonging to the finch family, feature red plumage in males, along with gray wings, tails, and two white wingbars. Females possess gray feathers with subdued orange heads and rumps. These finches exhibit a larger size compared to other finch species and move at a relatively leisurely pace.
Scientific name: Pinicola enucleator
Dimensions: Measuring 7.9-9.8 in (20-25 cm) in length, with a wingspan of 13.0 in (33 cm), Pine Grosbeaks primarily inhabit Canadian forests. However, some can be found along the U.S. border, in the mountainous western regions, and the Sierra Nevada in California.
Feeding on seeds, fruits, and buds from pine, spruce, and fir trees, Pine Grosbeaks occasionally supplement their diet with insects during the summer.
To attract Pine Grosbeaks, offer black oil sunflower seeds or suet feeders.
Frequency of Red Bird Sightings in West Virginia during Summer and Winter
Checklists encompass an invaluable resource for determining the commonly sighted bird species in West Virginia. These comprehensive lists compile the most frequently recorded red birds on eBird checklists for the state during both summer and winter seasons.
Common Red Birds in West Virginia during Summer:
– Northern Cardinal: 52.2%
– Scarlet Tanager: 26.3%
– House Finch: 17.4%
– Purple Finch: 2.0%
– Summer Tanager: 1.4%
– Red Crossbill: 0.6%
– White-winged Crossbill: <0.1%
Common Red Birds in West Virginia during Winter:
– Northern Cardinal: 51.7%
– House Finch: 23.8%
– Purple Finch: 3.6%
– Common Redpoll: 0.1%
– Red Crossbill: 0.1%
– White-winged Crossbill: <0.1%
– Scarlet Tanager: <0.1%
– Painted Bunting: <0.1%
– Pine Grosbeak: <0.1%