Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Scarlet Tanager vs Western 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
Western Tanager
Western Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Western Tanager
Western Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Western Tanager
Western Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Western Tanager
Western Tanager • Wikimedia Commons
Scarlet Tanager vs Western Tanager (Piranga olivacea vs Piranga ludoviciana): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
The red tanager of the East vs the red-headed tanager of the West. Three rules:
- Male body: red everywhere = Scarlet; yellow body under a red head = Western.
- Wing bars: none = Scarlet; bold pale bars on black wings = Western.
- Map: eastern hardwood forest = Scarlet; western conifer mountains = Western.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The two Piranga tanagers most often confused, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Scarlet Tanager | Western Tanager |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Piranga olivacea | Piranga ludoviciana |
| Length | 6.3–7.5 in (16–19 cm) | 7.3 in (18.5 cm) |
| Wingspan | 9.8–11.4 in (25–29 cm) | 11.4 in (29 cm) |
| Weight | 0.8–1.4 oz (23–38 g) | 0.8–1.3 oz (23–37 g) |
| Overall Shape | A stocky, thick-billed forest songbird that keeps to the leafy canopy | Stocky songbird with a thick bill and two wing bars |
| Male Plumage KEY | Breeding male blood-red with jet-black wings and tail; in winter, yellowish-green like the female but with black wings | Flame-red head, bright yellow body, black wings with yellow wing bars, black tail |
| Female Plumage | Yellowish-olive below, darker olive above, gray-brown wings — no black anywhere | Yellow-gray below, olive-gray above, with two pale wing bars |
| Bill Shape | Thick, pale gray-horn colored — thinner than a cardinal’s, thicker than a warbler’s | Thick, pale, slightly hooked |
| Tail | Medium, dark in the male, olive in the female | Black (male) or olive (female), medium length |
| Core Range KEY | Breeds in mature eastern deciduous forest; winters in northern South America | Western conifer and mixed forests; breeds from the Rockies to the Pacific, winters in Mexico and Central America |
| Migration | Long-distance migrant — arrives in May, gone by early fall | Long-distance migrant; passes through western yards in May and September |
| Feeder Presence | Rare at feeders; may come for orange halves, jelly or mealworms during migration | Migrants visit orange halves, grape jelly and suet; breeding birds stay in the canopy |
| Favorite Foods | Insects gleaned high in oaks; fruit during migration and on the wintering grounds | Insects, wild fruit; oranges and jelly at feeders during migration |
| Song | Burry, robin-like phrases — a robin with a sore throat | A robin-like series of short phrases with a distinctive burry quality |
| Flight Call KEY | A distinctive “chip-burr” — short note plus a buzz | A dry “pit-r-ik” |
| Population Trend | Stable overall but sensitive to forest fragmentation | Stable across western forests |
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.
Western Tanager — Male
Piranga ludoviciana
- Flame-red head (the only western tanager with one).
- Yellow body, black wings with yellow bars.
- Breeds in conifers; migrants drop into yards.
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.
Western Tanager — Female
Piranga ludoviciana
- Yellow-gray with two pale wing bars.
- Bigger-billed than any warbler; calmer than an oriole.
- Often travels with western warbler flocks in migration.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Scarlet Tanager | Western Tanager |
|---|---|---|
| Male Head & Body | Red head and body, evenly colored | Red head only; yellow breast and belly |
| Male Wings | Jet-black, unmarked | Black with bold pale wing bars |
| Male Tail | Black | Black, plainer |
| Female | Yellow-olive with gray-brown wings, no bars | Yellow-green with two visible wing bars |
| Song | Burry phrases — “a robin with a sore throat” | Hoarser, shorter, quicker phrases |
| Call | “Chip-burr” | “Pit-er-ick” |
| Habitat | Mature eastern oak and maple canopy | Western pine and fir forest, lower elevations in migration |
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
Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
Song: robin-like phrases with a burry, rough edge — “a robin with a sore throat”.
Calls: a dry pit-r-ik.
Western Tanager voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Scarlet Tanager breeds in mature deciduous forest of the Northeast and upper Midwest and winters in South America.
The Western Tanager breeds in coniferous forest of the Rockies, Cascades, and Sierra, migrating through the Southwest and wintering in Mexico and Central America. The ranges barely touch on the Great Plains.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Scarlet Tanager: rare at feeders; oranges and jelly during spring migration.
- Western Tanager: takes oranges, jelly, and fruit at western feeders, especially in dry migration stops.
- Both visit mulberry and serviceberry trees on migration.
- Winter: neither winters in the US.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Scarlet Tanagers stay high and hidden in eastern oak crowns, singing through summer.
Western Tanagers forage more openly and lower, even visiting backyard oranges in desert migration corridors.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Male body color. All-red = Scarlet; yellow body = Western.
- Wing bars. None = Scarlet; bold bars = Western.
- Head. Red head on yellow = Western; red head on red = Scarlet.
- Female. Gray wings, no bars = Scarlet; wing bars present = Western.
- Map. East = Scarlet; West = Western.
- Call. Chip-burr = Scarlet; pit-er-ick = Western.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Scarlet from a Western Tanager?
Scarlet males are red-bodied with black, unmarked wings; Western males have a red head, yellow body, and black wings with bold pale bars. Females: no wing bars (Scarlet) vs visible wing bars (Western).
Which tanager has wing bars?
The Western Tanager — both sexes show pale wing bars on dark wings. Scarlet Tanagers have plain wings.
Where does each live?
Scarlet: eastern deciduous forest. Western: conifer forests of the Rockies, Cascades, and Sierra. Their ranges barely overlap.
Do they come to feeders?
Western Tanagers readily take oranges and jelly; Scarlet Tanagers do so rarely, mostly during spring migration.
How do the songs differ?
Both sound like a hoarse robin; the Western Tanager’s phrases are shorter and rougher, the Scarlet’s smoother and longer.
What are their calls?
Scarlet: “chip-burr.” Western: “pit-er-ick.” Learning calls is the best way to find them in dense canopy.
Key Takeaways
- Male body: All-red = Scarlet; yellow body = Western.
- Wing bars: None = Scarlet; bold bars = Western.
- Female: No bars = Scarlet; bars = Western.
- Map: East = Scarlet; West = Western.
- Habitat: Oak-maple = Scarlet; pine-fir = Western.
- Call: Chip-burr = Scarlet; pit-er-ick = Western.