6 Things how to attract scarlet tanagers for stunning backyard views

The process of creating an environment conducive to luring a specific neotropical migrant, known for the male’s brilliant red plumage and the female’s olive-yellow coloring, involves a multifaceted approach to habitat management.

This practice goes beyond simple bird feeding and requires an understanding of the species’ natural history, dietary needs, and breeding requirements.

For instance, cultivating a landscape with mature deciduous trees mimics their preferred forest canopy, while providing a clean, moving water source can serve as a significant draw during migration.

The ultimate goal is to establish a safe and resource-rich stopover or nesting site that meets the bird’s specific ecological needs.

how to attract scarlet tanagers

Understanding the natural habitat of the scarlet tanager is the foundational step in creating an inviting space for them.

These birds are denizens of large, mature deciduous and mixed-deciduous forests, particularly those with a significant presence of oak trees.

They spend most of their time high in the forest canopy, foraging for insects among the leaves.

Therefore, a property with tall, established trees like oaks, maples, birches, and hickories provides the most promising starting point for successfully drawing in these vibrant visitors.

A lack of a mature canopy can be a significant deterrent, as it fails to replicate the environment where they feel most secure.

To complement a suitable canopy, developing a layered landscape that mimics a forest structure is highly beneficial. This involves creating an understory of smaller trees and large shrubs beneath the taller canopy trees.

Species like dogwood, serviceberry, and viburnum not only add structural diversity but also provide additional food sources in the form of berries and the insects they attract.

This multi-level environment offers more foraging opportunities and provides crucial cover from predators, making the area feel safer and more natural to a cautious bird like the scarlet tanager.

While scarlet tanagers are primarily insectivores, especially during the breeding season, they will supplement their diet with fruits and berries.

Their diet consists heavily of caterpillars, moths, beetles, and wasps, which they skillfully glean from foliage high in the trees.

To support this dietary need, it is essential to cultivate a pesticide-free yard that fosters a healthy and abundant insect population.

The presence of native plants is the best way to ensure a steady supply of the specific insects these birds rely on for feeding themselves and their young.

Although insects are their main fare, offering specific types of supplemental foods can be a powerful attractant, particularly during migration when energy needs are high.

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Scarlet tanagers are known to visit feeders that offer suet, mealworms, and certain fruits. Halved oranges securely placed on a platform feeder or impaled on a tree branch can be particularly effective.

Similarly, small amounts of grape jelly can entice them, though it should be offered sparingly. These offerings mimic the sweet, high-energy natural food sources they seek.

Water is a universal attractant for all birds, and scarlet tanagers are no exception.

A reliable and clean water source for drinking and bathing can draw them down from the high canopy where they are often difficult to spot.

A shallow birdbath is a good start, but the sight and sound of moving water are far more effective.

Installing a dripper, mister, or a small waterfall feature into a birdbath creates ripples and gentle sounds that signal a fresh water source to birds flying overhead, significantly increasing the chances of a visit.

Creating suitable nesting conditions is crucial for encouraging scarlet tanagers to stay for the entire breeding season. They are not cavity nesters and will not use a traditional birdhouse.

Instead, the female builds a shallow, cup-shaped nest on a horizontal branch of a deciduous tree, typically well away from the trunk.

Ensuring the presence of mature trees with sturdy, horizontal limbs provides potential nesting sites.

Most importantly, maintaining a quiet, undisturbed environment during the late spring and early summer nesting period is critical for their breeding success.

Timing is a key factor, as scarlet tanagers are long-distance migrants, spending their winters in South America.

They typically arrive in North American breeding grounds in late spring, often during the month of May, depending on the latitude. Having the yard prepared before their arrival is paramount.

This means ensuring water sources are clean and running, supplemental feeders are stocked, and the landscape is in optimal condition to coincide with their migratory passage and the subsequent search for breeding territories. p>

The selection of plant species in a garden or backyard has a profound impact on its appeal to scarlet tanagers.

Native plants are co-evolved with local insect populations, providing the specific caterpillars and other arthropods that tanagers require.

Oak trees are particularly valuable, as they host hundreds of species of caterpillars, a primary food source for nestlings.

Other beneficial native plants include cherry, birch, and serviceberry, which provide both insect life and fruit, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that supports the birds’ needs throughout their stay.

Finally, minimizing threats within the created habitat is a responsibility that accompanies the effort to attract wildlife.

The complete elimination of pesticides and herbicides is non-negotiable, as these chemicals decimate the insect food base and can directly harm the birds.

Steps should also be taken to prevent window collisions by using decals or screens on large panes of glass.

Furthermore, keeping domestic cats indoors is one of the most significant actions one can take to protect not only tanagers but all local bird populations from predation.

Key Elements for a Tanager-Friendly Habitat

1. Cultivate a Mature, Layered Forest Environment.

   The single most important factor is replicating the scarlet tanager’s preferred habitat of a mature deciduous forest.

   This begins with a canopy of tall trees, especially oaks, which are a keystone species for the insects tanagers eat.

   Below this canopy, a healthy understory of smaller trees and native shrubs should be encouraged to provide structural diversity and additional foraging layers.

   This layered effect creates a more complex and resource-rich environment, offering security and abundant food that makes the area highly attractive for both migratory stopovers and potential nesting sites.

2. Provide a Consistent Moving Water Source.

   Water is a powerful magnet for birds, particularly the sound and sight of it in motion.

   While a simple birdbath is beneficial, upgrading to a feature with a dripper, mister, or recirculating pump can dramatically increase its visibility and appeal.

   Scarlet tanagers, who spend much of their time high in the trees, are more likely to notice and investigate the gentle splashing or glistening of moving water.

   This feature provides a reliable spot for them to drink and bathe, which is essential for feather maintenance and hydration, especially after a long migratory flight.

3. Offer High-Energy Supplemental Foods.

   While tanagers are primarily insectivores, they readily consume fruit and suet to supplement their diet.

   Offering halved oranges, grape jelly, or suet in a platform or tray feeder can be very effective, especially during the spring migration.

   These foods provide quick energy that is vital for birds that have traveled thousands ofmiles.

   It is important to place these feeders in a quiet, safe location, preferably near the cover of trees, to encourage these shy birds to visit.

4. Commit to a Pesticide-Free Environment.

   A commitment to organic gardening practices is essential for attracting scarlet tanagers, as their diet is heavily dependent on a robust insect population.

   Pesticides and insecticides eliminate the caterpillars, beetles, and other arthropods that tanagers rely on to feed themselves and their young.

   By allowing a natural ecosystem to thrive, a yard provides a sustainable and healthy food source. This approach not only benefits tanagers but also supports a wide array of other birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects.

5. Prioritize Planting Native Species.

   Native plants are the cornerstone of a habitat that supports native wildlife. They are adapted to the local climate and soil and have co-evolved with the insects that scarlet tanagers eat.

   Planting native oaks, cherries, serviceberries, and dogwoods ensures a supply of both insect protein and natural fruits.

   These plants form the base of the local food web, creating a resilient and self-sufficient environment that provides food and shelter throughout the seasons that tanagers are present.

6. Minimize Disturbances and Threats.

   Creating a safe haven is just as important as providing food and water. This means actively working to reduce common dangers that birds face in suburban environments.

   Applying decals to windows can prevent deadly collisions, and keeping domestic cats indoors protects birds from a significant source of predation.

   During the breeding season from late May through July, it is also crucial to minimize loud noises and major landscaping projects near potential nesting trees to avoid causing the birds to abandon their nest.

Practical Tips for Implementation

• Utilize Platform or Tray Feeders.

  Scarlet tanagers are not adept at clinging to small perches like finches or chickadees. Therefore, they are more likely to visit feeders that offer a flat, stable surface where they can comfortably land and eat.

  Platform feeders, tray feeders, or even a simple flat rock can be used to offer items like suet crumbles, mealworms, and fruit.

  Placing these feeders in a location with a clear view but close to the safety of tree cover will make them more appealing to these cautious birds.

• Offer Oranges and Berries Strategically.

  The bright color of an orange can be a powerful visual cue for tanagers. Securely impaling orange halves on tree branches or specialized fruit feeders makes them easily accessible.

  In addition to oranges, offering native berries like serviceberries, elderberries, or dogwood berries can be a successful strategy.

  These can be provided on a platform feeder or, even better, by planting the shrubs themselves for a long-term, natural food source that ripens at the right time.

• Leave the Leaves in Autumn.

  Resisting the urge to rake every leaf from the ground can significantly benefit the local ecosystem and, in turn, attract tanagers.

  A layer of leaf litter provides a crucial habitat for a wide variety of insects, spiders, and other invertebrates to overwinter and reproduce.

  When these insects emerge in the spring, they become a vital, readily available food source for migrating and nesting birds.

  This simple practice helps to build a healthier soil and a more robust food web from the ground up.

• Maintain Water Features Diligently.

  A birdbath or water feature is only effective if it is kept clean and full.

  Water should be changed every one to two days to prevent the growth of algae and harmful bacteria, ensuring it remains safe for birds to drink and bathe in.

  Regular cleaning with a stiff brush and rinsing thoroughly is essential.

  In colder climates during early spring migration, using a heated birdbath can provide a critical, ice-free water source that is highly attractive to early arrivals.

A deeper appreciation for attracting scarlet tanagers comes from understanding their remarkable life cycle.

These birds undertake an arduous, long-distance migration each year, traveling from their wintering grounds in the Andean foothills of South America to their breeding territories across eastern North America.

This incredible journey requires immense energy reserves, which is why providing high-calorie foods and fresh water upon their spring arrival can be so impactful.

Their migration is a testament to their resilience and highlights the importance of creating safe stopover habitats along their route.

Identifying scarlet tanagers correctly is a rewarding skill for any bird enthusiast. The breeding male is unmistakable, with his brilliant, fiery red body and contrasting jet-black wings and tail.

The female, however, is much more subdued, with olive-yellow plumage, dusky wings, and a paler underside, making her well-camouflaged in the leafy canopy.

After the breeding season, the male molts into a non-breeding plumage that strongly resembles the female’s, though he retains his black wings, a key field mark for identification in the fall.

Learning to recognize the scarlet tanager’s vocalizations can reveal their presence long before they are seen.

Their song is often described as a robin-like series of burry, rhythmic phrases, but with a distinct hoarse or raspy quality, as if a robin has a sore throat.

Their call note is a sharp, emphatic “chick-burr,” which is often given in flight or when alarmed.

Listening for these sounds emanating from the high canopy is one of the most effective ways to locate these often-elusive birds within a wooded area.

The primary threat to scarlet tanager populations is habitat loss and fragmentation, both on their breeding grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in South America.

The clearing of large, contiguous forests for agriculture and development breaks their habitat into smaller, isolated patches.

This fragmentation increases their vulnerability to nest predation from species like blue jays and cowbirds, which thrive along forest edges.

Supporting conservation organizations that work to protect large forest tracts is a critical component of ensuring their long-term survival.

Backyard habitats, when managed thoughtfully, can play a small but meaningful role in conservation.

While a single yard cannot replace a forest, a network of well-planted, pesticide-free yards in a community can create a valuable corridor for migrating birds.

These spaces can serve as vital refueling stations, offering food, water, and rest to birds on their long journeys. This collective effort demonstrates how individual actions can contribute to broader conservation goals for migratory species.

The symbiotic relationship between oak trees and scarlet tanagers cannot be overstated. Oaks are host to a greater diversity and abundance of caterpillars than almost any other tree genus in North America.

These caterpillars are the perfect food for nestling tanagerssoft, protein-rich, and plentiful.

The timing of caterpillar emergence in the spring is synchronized with the arrival of migratory birds, creating a critical food boom that fuels the breeding season.

Planting a native oak is one of the most significant long-term investments one can make for supporting tanagers.

Observing the behavior of scarlet tanagers offers fascinating insights into their lives. They are methodical foragers, moving slowly and deliberately through the tree canopy as they scan leaves and branches for insects.

Unlike more frenetic birds, they often remain perched in one area for some time before moving on.

Witnessing a male sing his raspy song from a high perch to defend his territory or watching a female carefully construct her nest are special moments that reward the patient observer.

Patience is perhaps the most important tool for anyone hoping to attract scarlet tanagers.

Creating a suitable habitat is a long-term project; trees take years to mature, and it can take time for birds to discover a new resource-rich area.

It is not uncommon for several seasons to pass before the first tanager makes an appearance.

Consistent effort in maintaining the habitat, providing resources, and keeping the area safe will yield the best results over time.

Regional differences also play a role in the likelihood of attracting this species. Scarlet tanagers primarily breed in the eastern and central United States and southeastern Canada.

Those living within this range, particularly in or near areas with extensive deciduous forests, have the highest probability of success.

Understanding the specific local migration timing and the most common native plants in a given region will allow for a more tailored and effective approach to habitat creation.

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