Summer Tanager

Summer Tanager

  • Species: Piranga rubra
  • Type: Bird
  • Range: Breeds across the southern U.S. (including North Texas), migrates to Central and South America for winter.
  • Typical Size: 6.5-7 inches in length; wingspan around 11-12 inches.
  • Plumage Colors: Adult males are rosy red overall; females and juveniles are mustard yellow with hints of olive or orange.
  • Habitat Needs: Prefers open woodlands, especially oak and pine forests; found in parks and large backyards with tall trees.
  • Activity Period: Diurnal
  • Diet: Primarily insects-especially bees and wasps (they’re expert stingersnatchers); also eats fruits and berries.
  • Song/Call Description: A burry, robin-like song with slurred whistles; call note is a sharp pit-ti-tuck or pik-i-tuk.

Bird Behavior

  • Notable Behaviors: Famous for catching wasps and removing their stingers before eating; often gleans insects from treetops.
  • Nesting Habits: Builds cup-shaped nests on horizontal branches high in deciduous trees; female incubates the eggs.
  • Attracts To Garden By: Offering fruit (like mulberries or elderberries), bee-attracting flowers (ironically), or shaded tree cover.
  • Migration Patterns: Migratory-summers in the U.S., winters in Central and northern South America. Passes through Texas spring and fall.

Favorite Plants Or Features

  • Favorite Trees/Shrubs: Oaks, elms, pecans, and other tall native hardwoods.
  • Favorite Flowers/Grasses: Doesn’t feed on flowers directly but benefits from insect-rich gardens (bee balm, goldenrod, etc.).
  • Shelter Choices: Prefers tall, leafy trees with horizontal limbs for nesting; quiet and shaded areas are favored.

Notes

  • Interaction with Pets: Generally shy and stays up high; unlikely to interact directly with pets.
  • Special Notes: Only completely red bird in North America-making males unmistakable. Not a frequent feeder visitor but can be seen hunting wasps near flowering shrubs.

Description

The Summer Tanager is a striking visitor to North Texas, with males showing off a solid red plumage that seems almost tropical and females dressed in warm yellow tones. This bird is often heard before it’s seen, singing a sweet, lazy tune from high in the canopy. Agile in flight, it specializes in catching bees and wasps mid-air, deftly disarming them before eating. Though not a feeder regular, it may visit fruiting trees or linger near beehives (apologies to the beekeepers). Spotting one is a summer treat-bright as a flame and just as fleeting.

See Also

  • _Emberwood