Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Scarlet Tanager vs Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Summer Tanager
Summer Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Summer Tanager
Summer Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Summer Tanager
Summer Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Summer Tanager
Summer Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Scarlet Tanager vs Summer Tanager (Piranga olivacea vs Piranga rubra): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The two red tanagers. Three rules:
- Male wings: jet-black wings and tail = Scarlet; red wings = Summer.
- Bill: slimmer gray bill = Scarlet; thick, pale, slightly hooked = Summer.
- Map: northeast hardwoods = Scarlet; Southeast and Southwest = Summer.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The black-winged red bird and the all-red one, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Scarlet Tanager | Summer Tanager |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Piranga olivacea | Piranga rubra |
| Length | 6.3–7.5 in (16–19 cm) | 6.7–7.9 in (17–20 cm) |
| Wingspan | 9.8–11.4 in (25–29 cm) | 11–12 in (28–30 cm) |
| Weight | 0.8–1.4 oz (23–38 g) | 1.1 oz (29–30 g) |
| Overall Shape | A stocky, thick-billed forest songbird that keeps to the leafy canopy | The all-red tanager — a bee-and-wasp specialist of southern woodlands |
| Male Plumage KEY | Breeding male blood-red with jet-black wings and tail; in winter, yellowish-green like the female but with black wings | Entirely rose-red — body, wings and tail; no black anywhere; pale horn-colored bill |
| Female Plumage | Yellowish-olive below, darker olive above, gray-brown wings — no black anywhere | Mustard-yellow below, olive above, the same pale bill |
| Bill Shape | Thick, pale gray-horn colored — thinner than a cardinal’s, thicker than a warbler’s | Thick, pale, slightly hooked — built to crush bees |
| Tail | Medium, dark in the male, olive in the female | Medium, red (male) or olive (female) |
| Core Range KEY | Breeds in mature eastern deciduous forest; winters in northern South America | Breeds in the Southeast and Southwest; winters in Central and South America |
| Migration | Long-distance migrant — arrives in May, gone by early fall | Long-distance migrant — present May to September |
| Feeder Presence | Rare at feeders; may come for orange halves, jelly or mealworms during migration | Rarely; may visit jelly, oranges or a birdbath in migration |
| Favorite Foods | Insects gleaned high in oaks; fruit during migration and on the wintering grounds | Bees and wasps above all, plus other insects and fruit |
| Song | Burry, robin-like phrases — a robin with a sore throat | Rich, robin-like phrases, sweeter and smoother than a Scarlet Tanager |
| Flight Call KEY | A distinctive “chip-burr” — short note plus a buzz | A distinctive “pik-i-tuk” or “pit-ti-tuck” |
| Population Trend | Stable overall but sensitive to forest fragmentation | Stable overall |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
Scarlet Tanager — Male
Piranga olivacea
- Flaming red body with jet-black wings and tail.
- Pale, thick bill — a cardinal is redder-billed and crested.
- Stays high in oak canopies; look up, not at the feeder.
Summer Tanager — Male
Piranga rubra
- All-over rose-red — wings and tail included.
- Pale, thick bill; no black anywhere.
- Hunts bees and wasps with aerial sallies.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
Scarlet Tanager — Female
Piranga olivacea
- Yellow-olive body with grayish wings — no black.
- Gives a burry “chip-burr” call from the treetops.
- Compare with female Western Tanager, which shows wing bars.
Summer Tanager — Female
Piranga rubra
- Mustard-yellow with the same pale bill.
- Compare with female Scarlet Tanager, which is greener with darker wings.
- Nests high in oaks and pines.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Scarlet Tanager | Summer Tanager |
|---|---|---|
| Male Wings | Jet-black against the red body | Red, same as the body |
| Male Tail | Black | Red |
| Bill | Pale gray-horn, slimmer | Thick, pale, slightly hooked — a bee-crusher |
| Female | Yellow-olive with gray-brown wings | Mustard-yellow overall, plainer wings |
| Song | Burry, robin-like — “a robin with a sore throat” | Sweeter, smoother robin-like phrases |
| Call | “Chip-burr” | “Pik-i-tuk” |
| Diet Specialty | Canopy insects and fruit | Bees and wasps, caught on the wing |
Song & Call Comparison
Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea
Song: burry, robin-like phrases with a rough edge.
Calls: the diagnostic chip-burr — learn it and find more tanagers.
Scarlet Tanager voice • Wikimedia Commons
Summer Tanager
Piranga rubra
Song: rich, robin-like phrases, sweeter than a robin.
Calls: the diagnostic pik-i-tuk.
Summer Tanager voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Scarlet Tanager breeds in mature deciduous forest of the Northeast and upper Midwest, wintering in South America.
The Summer Tanager breeds across the Southeast and in the Southwest along rivers, wintering in Central and South America. They overlap in the midsouth.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Scarlet Tanager: rare at feeders; oranges and jelly during migration.
- Summer Tanager: jelly and fruit in southern yards; follows bee activity.
- Both eat fruit on migration — mulberries draw both in May.
- Winter: neither winters in the US.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Scarlet Tanagers are canopy homebodies — singing hidden in oak crowns all summer.
Summer Tanagers are aerial bee-hunters — sallying from mid-level perches and smashing wasps on branches.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Male wings. Black = Scarlet; red = Summer.
- Male tail. Black = Scarlet; red = Summer.
- Bill. Slim = Scarlet; thick pale = Summer.
- Female. Gray wings = Scarlet; mustard overall = Summer.
- Map. Northeast = Scarlet; South = Summer.
- Call. Chip-burr = Scarlet; pik-i-tuk = Summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Scarlet from a Summer Tanager?
Scarlet males have jet-black wings and tail; Summer males are entirely red with a thicker, paler bill. Females differ too — gray wings (Scarlet) vs mustard-yellow overall (Summer).
Which tanager eats bees?
The Summer Tanager — it catches bees and wasps on the wing and wipes out their stingers on branches.
Which is more common in the Northeast?
The Scarlet Tanager; Summer Tanagers breed mainly in the Southeast and Southwest.
Do they winter in the US?
No — both winter in the tropics; any red tanager-like bird in winter is a cardinal.
How do the songs differ?
Scarlet is burry — “a robin with a sore throat”; Summer is sweeter and smoother.
What are their calls?
Scarlet: “chip-burr.” Summer: “pik-i-tuk.” Both are worth learning for canopy birding.
Key Takeaways
- Male wings: Black = Scarlet; red = Summer.
- Bill: Slim = Scarlet; thick pale = Summer.
- Female: Gray wings = Scarlet; mustard = Summer.
- Map: Northeast = Scarlet; South = Summer.
- Diet: Bee-eater = Summer.
- Call: Chip-burr = Scarlet; pik-i-tuk = Summer.