Require assistance with identifying the crimson avian creatures discovered within the borders of Wisconsin? Behold this comprehensive guide unveiling the assortment of red-feathered birds that one can glimpse and providing invaluable aid in their identification.
Wisconsin plays host to a remarkable collection of eleven species of red birds. Among these avian inhabitants, eight species have earned the recognition of their regular occurrence as acknowledged by state checklists, while three additional species are deemed rare or occurring accidentally.
This informative guide endeavors to acquaint you with the distinct species of red birds indigenous to Wisconsin as documented by avibase. It is worth noting that while some of these winged creatures embark on seasonal migrations, others choose to remain throughout the entire year.
To facilitate the identification of avian visitors to your very own backyard, you may procure a complimentary worksheet dedicated to bird identification in Wisconsin.
In the realm of Wisconsin’s avifauna, the Northern Cardinal reigns supreme as the most ubiquitous red bird during both summer and winter seasons. The Scarlet Tanager, on the other hand, makes its presence more evident in the warmer months, whereas other species tend to grace the wintry landscapes of Wisconsin. Delve deeper into the realm of these captivating crimson-hued creatures for further insights.
Wisconsin’s Eleven Red Birds:
1. Northern Cardinal
A permanent fixture throughout the year in Wisconsin, the Northern Cardinal presents a splendid spectacle with its crimson head, body, and tail adorned by a black facial ensemble. Its magnificence knows no bounds, particularly when juxtaposed against the backdrop of a snow-covered landscape. Even the females exude elegance with their brown plumage, distinctive brown crests, and flashes of red interwoven within their feathers.
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)
Dwelling predominantly in the eastern and southern states, the Northern Cardinals may exhibit aggression during the breeding season, occasionally mistaking their own reflections as rivals while staunchly guarding their territories. Lure more of these captivating creatures to your backyard feeders by providing them with a delectable assortment of sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, millet, and milo. Sizable tube feeders, hoppers, platform feeders, or scattered food upon the ground shall serve as a feast for these majestic creatures.
2. House Finch
Throughout the year, one can relish the delightful presence of House Finches within Wisconsin’s realms.
The male House Finches don a reddish hue upon their heads and breasts, while the females exhibit a streaked brown appearance.
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)
Initially limited to western states, these finches gradually expanded their habitat to encompass the eastern regions, thus thriving even at the expense of their Purple Finch counterparts. Parks, farms, forest edges, and backyard feeders serve as the preferred haunts for these gregarious finches, often congregating in noisy flocks that are challenging to overlook. Encourage their presence in your backyard by providing black oil sunflower seeds or nyjer seeds through tube or platform feeders.
3. Purple Finch
The Purple Finch is a year-round inhabitant of Wisconsin, with spring and fall being the seasons when they particularly grace the state with their presence.
Sporting a reddish-purple crown and breast, complemented by brown tones on their back and wings, Purple Finches bear a striking resemblance to their House Finch counterparts.
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)
While they breed in Canada and seek refuge in eastern states during the winter months, Purple Finches may be encountered year-round within the northeastern and Pacific coastal areas. These delightful birds can be observed amidst evergreen forests, foraging on seeds, buds, nectar, and berries. They exhibit a fondness for black oil sunflower seeds, and you can entice them to your feeders with this delectable offering.
4. Scarlet Tanager
Wisconsin’s Scarlet Tanagers are commonly sighted during the summer season.
Clad in vibrant red plumage complemented by black wings and tails, the male Scarlet Tanager strikes a remarkable pose. Meanwhile, the females sport a yellow hue, 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)
Breeding primarily within the eastern forests during summer, these elusive tanagers embark on a migratory journey to South America. Their preference for occupying the forest canopy renders them challenging to spot. Foster their presence in your vicinity by cultivating a variety of berry plants, such as blackberries, raspberries, huckleberries, juneberries, serviceberries, mulberries, strawberries, and chokeberries.
5. Common Redpoll
Common Redpolls make their presence known during the winter months in Wisconsin.
With a reddish forehead, rosy breast, and brown-and-white patterning throughout their bodies, these birds radiate charm.
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)
Northern states provide a winter haven for Common Redpolls, with occasional appearances within central states. These resourceful birds burrow into the snow for warmth during frigid nights, consuming up to 42% of their body weight daily and storing up to 2 grams of seeds in a flexible section of their esophagus. You can observe them foraging in weedy fields or savoring catkins in trees, and they will gladly frequent your feeders if provided with small seeds like nyjer or thistle.
6. Red Crossbill
While not exceedingly common, Red Crossbills have taken up residence in Wisconsin year-round.
Distinguished by red males with contrasting wings and tails, and yellow and brown females, these birds exhibit remarkable coloration.
Throughout the year, these crossbills favor northern and western states, retreating to eastern states during the winter months.
Their diet primarily consists of conifer seeds, and they exhibit fascinating foraging behavior, moving in flocks from tree to tree while employing their powerful beaks to pry open unopened cones. Aside from coniferous forests, you may spot them near roadways, indulging in the morning consumption of grit.
7. Pine Grosbeak
Winter unveils the enchanting presence of Pine Grosbeaks in Wisconsin.
Pine Grosbeaks, members of the finch family, grace the landscape with their crimson-hued males, which showcase hints of gray on their wings and tails, along with two distinctive white wingbars. Females, in contrast, feature gray plumage accentuated by subtly orange heads and rumps. Among finches, they are notably larger and move at a leisurely pace.
Scientific Name: Pinicola enucleator
Size: 7.9-9.8 inches (20-25 cm)
Wingspan: 13.0 inches (33 cm)
Although primarily found in Canadian territories, a fortunate few may be encountered along the US border, in the mountainous western regions, and even the Sierra Nevada in California. These delightful creatures inhabit forests dominated by pine, spruce, and fir, where they nourish themselves on seeds, fruits, buds, and occasionally insects during the summer months. To beckon Pine Grosbeaks to your feeders, offer black oil sunflower seeds or suet.
8. White-winged Crossbill
White-winged Crossbills may be considered a rarity in Wisconsin, yet they occasionally grace the state throughout the year, primarily favoring the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Endowed with robust crossed beaks, these finches exhibit red plumage in males, accompanied by black wings, tails, and two distinct white wingbars. Females, in contrast, showcase a yellowish-brown coloration, complemented by the same 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 establish their territories within forests spanning Canada, Alaska, and occasionally the northern regions of the United States when cone yields are scant further north. Spruce forests serve as their favored foraging grounds, where they derive sustenance from the seeds. Remarkably, these birds exhibit unconventional breeding habits, often reproducing throughout the year, provided ample food resources are available. They frequently gather in sizable flocks, their presence often accompanied by distinctive calls.
9. Summer Tanager
Considered an accidental or rare species within Wisconsin, Summer Tanagers have been observed primarily in Milwaukee.
The male Summer Tanager radiates a brilliant shade of red, while females boast a yellow coloration.
Scientific Name: Piranga rubra
Size: 6.7 inches (17 cm)
Weight: 1.1 ounce (30 g)
They breed in the southern and eastern regions of the United States before migrating to Central and South America for the winter. These forest-dwelling songbirds exhibit a remarkable feeding behavior, seizing bees and wasps mid-flight and incapacitating them by striking them against a branch and removing their stingers before consumption. To allure Summer Tanagers to your surroundings, consider planting berry bushes and fruit trees.
10. Painted Bunting
Wisconsin serves as an accidental habitat for Painted Buntings, albeit a remarkably rare one. Sightings have been recorded in Milwaukee and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Males of the species are adorned in a vibrant tapestry of colors, featuring predominant shades of red beneath, vivid blue heads, green wings, and backs. Conversely, females exhibit a vibrant 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)
Breeding is restricted to select states, primarily the south-central and coastal areas of the Southeastern United States. These buntings embark on nocturnal migrations, traveling to Central America, southern Florida, and several Caribbean islands. They thrive in semi-open habitats and exhibit a penchant for seeds and insects during the breeding season. Cultivating low, dense vegetation and offering feeders filled with white millet or black oil sunflower seeds can entice Painted Buntings to visit your abode.
11. Pyrrhuloxia
Pyrrhuloxia represents an accidental species within Wisconsin, with records indicating only a single sighting within the state.
Males boast gray plumage punctuated by vibrant red accents on their faces, crests, breasts, and tails. Females, in contrast, exhibit a more subdued gray appearance with minimal red hues.
Scientific Name: Cardinalis sinuatus
Size: 8.3 inches (21 cm)
Weight: 0.8-1.5 ounces (24-43 g)
These territorial birds inhabit the scorching deserts of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico. While fiercely defending their territories during the breeding season, they form flocks of up to 1,000 individuals during winter. Pyrrhuloxia sustains themselves predominantly on seeds but also supplement their diet with insects. They are amenable to visiting feeders offering sunflower seeds, although they often prefer scattered seeds on the ground.
Frequency of Red Bird Sightings in Wisconsin during Summer and Winter
For a comprehensive understanding of the avian inhabitants commonly spotted within Wisconsin, checklists compiled by eBird serve as an invaluable resource. These lists shed light on the red birds most frequently observed in the state during both the summer and winter seasons.
Common Red Birds in Wisconsin during Summer:
– Northern Cardinal: 42.0%
– House Finch: 18.7%
– Scarlet Tanager: 7.7%
– Purple Finch: 3.7%
– Red Crossbill: 0.2%
– Summer Tanager: 0.1%
– Common Redpoll: <0.1%
– White-winged Crossbill: <0.1%
– Painted Bunting: <0.1%
Common Red Birds in Wisconsin during Winter:
– Northern Cardinal: 38.4%
– House Finch: 22.5%
– Common Redpoll: 6.5%
– Purple Finch: 3.8%
– Pine Grosbeak: 1.1%
– White-winged Crossbill: 0.7%
– Red Crossbill: 0.4%
– Summer Tanager: <0.1%
– Scarlet Tanager: <0.1%