When we are talking about red birds, it will come to many different group of bird, especially in America. There are some birds that love to spend their time in sparse and dry are Pyrrhuloxia and Flycatcher.
On the other hand, the mixed forests can be the great place for Purple Finch and Scarlet Tanager to live. Interested to identifying them? Down below are some facts about those kinds of birds you need to know.
Interested to observe the red birds of paradise? Well, it may be only found in several places away from America. But sometimes you still have a chance to see any red birds in wildlife near around you.
Some of birds may be commonly appearing in your backyard but several birds are hardly to find. But you don’t need to come over the jungle while down below you can find any red birds you wanted to know.
Table of Contents
- Interesting Facts about Red Birds in America
- 1. You can find Northern Cardinals just only at your backyard
- 2. Only birds known as a songbird in the finch family is Grosbeaks
- 3. The only red colors in Grosbeaks can be found on their chests while other colors spread is just black and white
- 4. When it comes to the birds with red-toned plumage that looks smaller, the answer will be both the house finches and Purple Finches.
- 5. Instead of brightest red or purple, the Purple Finches look more like color of raspberry
- 6. People are commonly mistaken to recognizing Phyrrhuloxias and Northern Cardinals as they both have red crests and long bills
- 7. Northern Cardinal has the most appearances in the U.S.
- 8. In the US, Summer Tanagers can almost be observed along the seasons except winter
- 9. Male Scarlet Tanagers have black wings
- 10. Purple Finches are feeding together with Northern Cardinals
- Name of Red Birds
Interesting Facts about Red Birds in America
1. You can find Northern Cardinals just only at your backyard
It’s simply easy to describe the Northern Cardinals as well as easy to find in any place around you. The backyard or parklands are the favorite place for them to forage. Furthermore, they are also easy to spot as they have bright long tails, orange beaks, and spiky crests.
What is more, any northern cardinals usually found in the winter holiday cards in any countries in the USA. These birds are totally familiar!
Northern cardinals commonly appear in country such as North Carolina. Even though the female of northern cardinals has dull color in feathers, there is still red highlight on their wings and crest that make them look reddish.
If you’re interested to catch and pet them, you can plant low shrubs with any protected place to roost. It looks so easy to catch them as they will come back to get their favorite foods over there.
2. Only birds known as a songbird in the finch family is Grosbeaks
Grosbeaks have large nose that can be used to crushing seeds. As the name suggests, Grosbeaks with red feathers are commonly called Pine Grosbeaks while especially the male one will have dull feathers as it’s fading into grey.
Some kinds of foods such as fruit or suet are most favorable foods especially for any Grosbeaks as it’s categorized as the northern forest birds.
3. The only red colors in Grosbeaks can be found on their chests while other colors spread is just black and white
Grosbeaks appear across US from Midwest to the eastern territory as they build their nest in any sapling trees. If you’re trying to find this kind of birds, it’s really easy to track them.
Sometimes, any Grosbeaks will forage into the ground and trying to find sunflower seeds or raw peanuts to eat. Some of birders will particularly love this kind of bird which commonly called “The Charmers”.
4. When it comes to the birds with red-toned plumage that looks smaller, the answer will be both the house finches and Purple Finches.
House Finches are the most commonly birds seen across the US. They’re easy to spot as they appear in red color and sometimes they will forage in any neighborhoods or parks. Red color they got is coming from any foods they eat and depends on their diet.
Sometimes it makes them turn from bright red into the orange or yellow. The brightest color is spreading into the male feather as they try to attract female Finch.
5. Instead of brightest red or purple, the Purple Finches look more like color of raspberry
From the Pacific Northwest to the East Coast, Purple Finches are usually spending their time foraging on the tops of tress. In any situation, the Purple Finches will be singing their song as well as mimicking other birds’ calls.
If you’re interested to observe any Purple Finches near around you, just try to provide seed of black oil sunflower as it’s becoming the most favorable foods of these birds.
6. People are commonly mistaken to recognizing Phyrrhuloxias and Northern Cardinals as they both have red crests and long bills
As they look similar each other, Phyrrhuloxias and Northern Cardinals exactly have difference especially in the faces. Northern Cardinals’ face is colored in orange whereas the nose of Phyrrhuloxia looks brighter into the yellow.
Both are native birds commonly living in any arid regions in the Southwest, especially spending time around the cacti or in the low desert bushes.
7. Northern Cardinal has the most appearances in the U.S.
Northern Cardinal is also the common birds spotted in any countries in the US such as Illinois. Both male and female can be found across the US but it’s difficult to see in the Northwest.
Northern Cardinals furthermore love to build their nest around the yard, this make them as lovable yard birds. They look for any feeders that provide them with any kind of black oil sunflower or seeds of safflower.
8. In the US, Summer Tanagers can almost be observed along the seasons except winter
Birdwatchers in any countries including Virginia are able to observe Summer Tanagers along the spring, summer, and early fall as they do migration and move to the South of America in the winter.
Mostly Summer Tanagers may not be coming to the feeders and prefer to spend their time in the surface of the water.
9. Male Scarlet Tanagers have black wings
Did you know that Scarlet Tanagers come to US only for breeding? It seems a surprising fact, but there is more exciting.
Though scarlet tanagers are categorized as red birds living in US, the fact tells that the male of Scarlet Tanagers look so contrast with black color on their wings. On the other hand, Scarlet Tanager females have greenish-yellow color even though the wings still looks in black.
10. Purple Finches are feeding together with Northern Cardinals
The most interesting fact about red birds is that two group of birds from different family are sharing feed together. There are Purple Finches and Northern Cardinal that appear in the same field to gather any food from black-oil sunflower. Those who live in the US, it’s possible to find any purple finches flight to the north for breeding in winter.
Name of Red Birds
After finding out any interesting facts about red birds you may find in the US, now let’s get to know more about the names for red birds that commonly seen in any place across this country.
1. Northern Cardinal

Do you live in U.S.? So you will be familiar with the birds called Northern Cardinal. Known as the most popular birds, Northern Cardinal has become the official state bird in several states in the US, including Michigan.
There are huge number of Northern Cardinal population in the Southeast and expanding northward in few decades. Not only in the U.S., their songs whistled over the southeastern of Canada.
These birds are also popular with its outstanding color, especially when it comes to winter. Sunflower seeds are the most favorite place they come over to find some foods as it’s hugely abundant in the northwest.
In breeding season, females will make any sound as they begin to build a nest and place their egg. While females are building their nest, Northern Cardinal males will sing to defend their territory.
Sometimes their nests are built up upon the low trees, vines, or bushes. The nests are commonly formed from several materials such as grass, leaves, roots, twigs, or even fine hair.
2. Scarlet Tanager

If you have ever seen any bright and exotics birds flying around northeastern woodlands, you must be watching a Scarlet Tanager. In the summer, they love to spend time in oak forests by foraging in any leafy branches.
They may do migration to the South America in winter and go back from their former place in spring. As winter brought late freeze, it will force Scarlet Tanager to come out and gathering insects.
Scarlet Tanager love to forage on the top of tall trees such as oaks trees. Sometimes they also try to build their nest in any trees with 20-30’ tall above the ground.
The nests are commonly created in a shallow open cup that made from several stuffs such as weeds, grass, twigs, rootlets, and fine grass. In winter, mostly Scarlet Tanagers are foraging on the ground or at least at the low bushes.
3. Summer Tanager

While songbirds come to the southern woods such as in Alabama, it must be Summer Tanager’s languid voice. Sometimes, these birds are foraging at the tops of tall trees while others moving deliberately around.
Not only for chasing the female, Summer Tanager male will be making a sound in order to defend their nests as well. Any leaves, grass, stems, or even spider-webs are used to create their nests.
Female of Summer Tanager occasionally takes over the tasks of building the nest, but sometimes male also accompany female in the making of building process. In the winter, Summer Tanager will do migration with flying to the north and south.
Some other places such as Brazil and Bolivia are the place they are mostly appearing. They are also migrating by crossing gulf of Mexico into their journey overland.
4. Red-headed Woodpecker

Some popular ornithologists including Audubon and Alexander Wilson put the Red-headed Woodpecker as their favorite red birds to observe. They called these birds as the striking and unmistakable bird as they have strong pattern and harsh calls.
Small colonies of Red-headed Woodpecker will be more active in semi-open country. Mostly Woodpecker will migrate only in a short distance in the end of the spring.
Though they will do migration not too far, they will be easily noticeable in early fall, especially for little groups of migrants.
Red-headed Woodpecker may be easily found in eastern North America, but unfortunately, this kind of birds nowadays are becoming so rare to find in mostly regions in the U.S. Only these kinds of birds are reportedly has unique technique in foraging.
5. Painted Bunting

These birds are Missouri’s native birds ever live there. Painted Bunting has popular name and usually called “Nonpareil” which means “Unrivalled”. The name comes from the fact that Painted Bunting has unbelievable colors, especially for the male.
The Southeast is the place where abundant of Painted Buntings are living. It’s because they love to spending time in any brushy or woodland edges area.
Some native Floridians who live in Florida will be so lucky to see any Painted Buntings especially in winter for finding foods. Male Painted Bunting will whistle their voice from the top of tall trees.
Even they commonly forage on the ground, some places such as shrubs or low trees will be their favored place to foraging up. Painted Bunting also flocks with Indigo Bunting during the migration.
In winter, Painted Bunting moreover spends their time on southern Atlantic Coast to build their nests. Sometimes it comes over several areas including northwestern Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.
Painted Bunting also mostly spotted in big city such as New York. What makes these birds so unique is that every male of Painted Bunting will find their mates more than only one.
6. Pine Grosbeak

Pine Grosbeak may look as big boreal finch appears in spruce of the high mountains. Some coniferous forest will be the great place to find Pine Grosbeak as these birds will move motionless.
Mostly they’re foraging in any trees and shrubs and moving slowly to gather buds, seeds, or fruits in any trees and maples. They also forage on the small flocks as nesting season has not been coming yet.
Pine Grosbeak has permanent resident in almost all of the areas, which means those who live in Ohio are possible to spot this bird. In winter, they also doing small invasions by going to the south as the food supplies in the far North has run out.
Nests are commonly made by moss, grass, or twigs. In order to keep their nesting territory secure, Male of Pine Grosbeak will sing a mellow warble continuously.
7. Purple Finch
Do you feel so bored to just observing birds from pictures of red birds? Well, the Purple Finch may be easiest group of birds to spot for real. Though it’s called Purple Finch, they are actually not that purple.
Purple Finch looks like an old-rose color, especially for the male one. Sometimes these birds rarely appear in Rocky Mountains region while others may be spotted in the North or East of Pacific seaboard.
Purple Finches look for any food from the trees or on the ground of the open woods. While they’re foraging at the trees, it means they’re looking for any insects or seed.
They are also commonly coming down to the ground and foraging in a low weed. Purple Finches will likely flock together with small colonies when it doesn’t come to the nesting season. Anyway, they do migration in spring and fall.
8. Cinnamon Teal
The only birds from duck family that appear in western are the Cinnamon Teal while other may be spotted in coast area. The birds that look similar to Blue-winged Teal usually build their nests in South America.
Used to strain any feeder from the water, Cinnamon Teal are equipped with larger bill. Blue-winged Teal or Northern Shoveler is the groups of birds that seem similar to Cinnamon Teal.
As you see from pictures of red birds, Cinnamon Teal comes from ducks family that gathers food by strain it from water. Cinnamon Teal furthermore will move to South America to do migration.
9. Elegant Trogon
Have you ever spotted an Elegant Trogon? The popularity of this bird has increased high since the late of 1800s. Every birdwatcher needs to visit southern Arizona for only spotted Elegant Trogon.
This bird has outstanding metallic colors and fantastic perish. To find any food, Elegant Trogons may quietly perch. They choose to spot any insects before hovering them then swoop away to another branches.
If you live in Arizona, you’re possibly watching this bird during April to May until September to October. You can find them swim upon the streams during the winter. On the other hand, Texas will be the next stop where any Elegant Trogons stray from northeastern Mexico.
10. Pyrrhuloxia
Pyrrhuloxia or commonly known as the “desert cardinal” is the red birds that mostly appear in the Southwest. Though it looks similar to another red bird such as Northern Cardinal, the Pyrrhuloxia has unique voice and behavior.
Anyway, the name ‘Pyrrhuloxia’ came from the scientific name of this bird which explaining this bird’s bill shape and combined by the term of Bullfinch in Latin term.
Pyrrhuloxia is commonly spotted in several states in the U.S. including Oklahoma. These birds are love to foraging in open ground while others colonies may spend their time in low trees or shrubs.
They will be foraging in small flocks as it doesn’t come to nesting season. This bird is able to singing as it’s needed to keep their territory secure. Its nests are usually made from grass, grass, twigs, or plant fibers.