Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Scarlet Tanager vs Vermilion Flycatcher
Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Vermilion Flycatcher
Vermilion Flycatcher • Wikimedia Commons
Vermilion Flycatcher
Vermilion Flycatcher • Wikimedia Commons
Vermilion Flycatcher
Vermilion Flycatcher • Wikimedia Commons
Vermilion Flycatcher
Vermilion Flycatcher • Wikimedia Commons
Scarlet Tanager vs Vermilion Flycatcher (Piranga olivacea vs Pyrocephalus rubinus): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
Two of the reddest birds in America. Three rules:
- Dark parts: black wings and tail = Scarlet Tanager; brown mask, back and tail = Vermilion Flycatcher.
- Behavior: perched motionless in forest canopy = tanager; sallying from a fence wire after insects = flycatcher.
- Map: eastern forest = tanager; Southwest desert edges = Vermilion.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The forest red and the desert red, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Scarlet Tanager | Vermilion Flycatcher |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Piranga olivacea | Pyrocephalus rubinus |
| Length KEY | 6.3–7.5 in (16–19 cm) | 5.1–5.5 in (13–14 cm) |
| Wingspan | 9.8–11.4 in (25–29 cm) | 9.4–9.8 in (24–25 cm) |
| Weight | 0.8–1.4 oz (23–38 g) | 0.4–0.5 oz (11–14 g) |
| Overall Shape | A stocky, thick-billed forest songbird that keeps to the leafy canopy | A small flycatcher — the male is a coal-red ember over desert grass |
| Male Plumage KEY | Breeding male blood-red with jet-black wings and tail; in winter, yellowish-green like the female but with black wings | Brilliant scarlet crown and underparts, brown mask through the eye, brown back, wings and tail |
| Female Plumage | Yellowish-olive below, darker olive above, gray-brown wings — no black anywhere | Gray-brown above, whitish breast with fine streaks, and a peachy-pink wash on the lower belly |
| Bill Shape | Thick, pale gray-horn colored — thinner than a cardinal’s, thicker than a warbler’s | Small, broad-based, dark — a flycatcher bill |
| Tail | Medium, dark in the male, olive in the female | Brown, often flicked |
| Core Range KEY | Breeds in mature eastern deciduous forest; winters in northern South America | Open country of the Southwest — desert scrub, ranchland, golf courses and parks; into Mexico |
| Migration | Long-distance migrant — arrives in May, gone by early fall | Northern birds withdraw in winter; resident in southern Arizona and Texas |
| Feeder Presence | Rare at feeders; may come for orange halves, jelly or mealworms during migration | Does not use feeders; hunts from low perches over open ground |
| Favorite Foods | Insects gleaned high in oaks; fruit during migration and on the wintering grounds | Flying insects — bees, beetles, moths — caught in aerial sallies |
| Song | Burry, robin-like phrases — a robin with a sore throat | A fluttery flight song — “pit-a-see, pit-a-see” delivered on the wing |
| Flight Call | A distinctive “chip-burr” — short note plus a buzz | A sharp “pit” or “peent” |
| Population Trend | Stable overall but sensitive to forest fragmentation | Stable; expanding slightly with watered urban landscapes |
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.
Vermilion Flycatcher — Male
Pyrocephalus rubinus
- Scarlet crown and underparts, brown mask and back.
- Sits low on a fence wire, sallying out after insects.
- Song flight: rises fluttering, singing “pit-a-see”.
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.
Vermilion Flycatcher — Female
Pyrocephalus rubinus
- Gray-brown with a streaked breast and a pink wash on the lower belly.
- The pink belly is the mark — other female flycatchers lack it.
- Nests in a horizontal fork of a mesquite.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Scarlet Tanager | Vermilion Flycatcher |
|---|---|---|
| Male Body | Blood-red with jet-black wings and tail | Scarlet crown and underparts, brown mask and back |
| Male Face | Red, unmarked | Brown mask through the eye |
| Size | 7 in | 5.1–5.5 in — much smaller |
| Bill | Thick, pale gray | Small, broad-based, dark — a flycatcher bill |
| Behavior | Gleans the high canopy | Sallies from low wires; fluttery song flight |
| Female | Yellow-olive, gray wings | Gray-brown, streaked breast, pink wash on lower belly |
| Song | Burry robin-like phrases | Fluttery “pit-a-see” 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
Vermilion Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubinus
Song: a fluttery pit-a-see given in a hovering flight display.
Calls: a sharp pit from low perches.
Vermilion Flycatcher voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Scarlet Tanager breeds in mature eastern deciduous forest and winters in South America.
The Vermilion Flycatcher lives in open country of the Southwest — desert scrub, ranchland and parks — resident in the south of its range. The two never naturally meet.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Scarlet Tanager: oranges and jelly during spring migration, rarely otherwise.
- Vermilion Flycatcher: no feeders — it needs open airspace and low perches for hunting.
- Both are insect specialists; a pesticide-free yard helps each.
- Water: Vermilions visit desert birdbaths; tanagers use shaded forest water.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Scarlet Tanagers are deliberate canopy birds — brilliant but sluggish, and often first detected by the “chip-burr” call.
Vermilion Flycatchers are showmen — males rise in fluttering song flights over their territory and chase rivals relentlessly.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Wings. Black = tanager; brown = Vermilion.
- Face. Plain red = tanager; brown mask = Vermilion.
- Size. Bigger = tanager; tiny = Vermilion.
- Behavior. Canopy = tanager; fence-wire sallies = Vermilion.
- Map. East = tanager; Southwest = Vermilion.
- Female. Yellow-olive = tanager; gray-brown + pink belly = Vermilion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Scarlet Tanager from a Vermilion Flycatcher?
Tanagers are larger with black wings and tail; Vermilions are small with a brown mask, back and tail — and they hunt from low perches in open country.
Do their ranges overlap?
Essentially no — tanagers are eastern forest birds, Vermilions are southwestern open-country birds.
What is the little red bird on the fence wire?
In the Southwest, a Vermilion Flycatcher — it sits low and sallies out after flying insects.
What does a female Vermilion Flycatcher look like?
Gray-brown with a streaked breast and a peachy-pink wash on the lower belly — the pink is the giveaway.
Which one migrates farther?
The Scarlet Tanager — to South America. Vermilions are largely resident in the southern Southwest.
Are both really red?
Yes — among the reddest songbirds on the continent, which is why they are confused in photos.
Key Takeaways
- Wings: Black = tanager; brown = Vermilion.
- Mask: Brown mask = Vermilion.
- Size: Bigger = tanager; tiny = Vermilion.
- Behavior: Canopy = tanager; wire = Vermilion.
- Map: East = tanager; Southwest = Vermilion.
- Female: Olive = tanager; pink belly = Vermilion.