Detailed information on Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)

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lakesidecallas

Dandridge, TN (Zone 6a) | June 2020 | Positive

We had a yellow bird we didn't recognize flitting around our yard this May and June. After a lot of searching we thought it might be a female Scarlet Tanager. To our thrill, we found her sitting on a nest. She leaves in the morning, and her mate joins her, but he's very elusive. A week later we have at least 1 baby, mother bird is doing all the feeding. Scarlet or Summer Tanager? Hard to tell, but they're lovely birds!.

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iahishade

Glenwood, IA | May 2020 | Neutral

I live in southwest Iowa and have a summer tanager living near me. My first sighting was of a red bird pecking at my window and flying away to the large hickory trees near the window. Realizing it was not a cardinal because there was no crest, I went to my bird ID book and was surprised to find it listed as summer tanager, and that it had been spotted here before by my book marking. It has stayed for several weeks now (this is written in late May). What a beautiful bird and a joy to see in my mostly shady green garden!

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Cdnrosecottage

| December 2019 | Positive

Some lovely pictures, however, there are a couple labelled male and female, which are actually photos of an American Goldfinch attempting to chase the summer Tanager away from the seed and suet cage. Both are lovely birds. The Goldfinch is more common here in Ontario, Canada but the Tanager (The Scarlet Tanager, that is) is an occasional visitor.

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Cat_S

Hohenwald, TN | June 2019 | Neutral

These brilliant birds are regular visitors here in Middle Tennessee. Last summer I saw a female Summer Tanager (at least I'm pretty sure it was) picking wasps out of nest. She repeatedly hovered in front of the nest just long enough to grab a wasp, then flew away with it. It was amazing to see.

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Amelanchier2

New York City, NY | May 2019 | Positive

I didn't actually know the name Summer Tanager and thought I was seeing a Scarlet Tanager for a couple of weeks, starting in late April 2019. I was working on reseeding own lawn at the Clinton Community Garden in New York City when I first saw the extraordinary flash of red in a nearby tree. This beautiful bird remained my companion, fluttering down every so often to the grass but never staying long enough for me to get a decent picture. Word got out last weekend, however, and a fleet of birders arrived at our small garden with very big cameras.

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kgerken68

Bee Cave, TX | January 2013 | Neutral

A female or possibly juvenile summer tanager appeared at our suet feeder in Lakeway, Texas on 1-11-2013. Our local Audubon Society has commented that she should not be here at this time of year. She is at our feeder all day each day so far

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Suen

Leakey, TX | April 2010 | Positive

The tanager has been coming to my oriole feeder for the
past 2 weeks here at Leakey, TX. I notice it eating the grape jelly and pecking at the sliced orange I have on the feeder.

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lolalaska

Pensacola, FL | November 2009 | Positive

I am a hobbyist beekeeper in NW Fla. I saw what I thought was a cardinal on a wire over my hives. Nope. This bird is the only solid red bird in N.A. It eats bees! The male I observed would fly to the ground, snatch a bee, toss it against the house (brick) to stun it and remove the stinger, then eat it. I looked it up thru google "What Bird?". Very interesting, don't see him very often, and not enough to hinder my bee population. A beautiful bird.

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maureeng

Hancock, MI (Zone 5a) | March 2009 | Positive

This little guy, obviously lost, spent 3 weeks at our feeder during late April-early May of 2008. We are located at 47 degrees North latitude. Local Audubon said his appearance extremely rare for our area -- Lake Linden, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula. We had visitors from 35 miles away come and visit and the weather was very cold.

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MotherNature4

Bartow, FL (Zone 9a) | January 2009 | Positive

This bright red bird is fairly common in the pine forests of Wekiva Springs State Park near Apopka, Florida. In summer their call comes from very high in the trees, and he can be found perched on the highest branches. The female is seldom seen because of her coloration.

Summer Tanager

Piranga rubra

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