Tennessee’s Beautiful Red Birds and Where to Find Them

A bright red bird is one of the most eye-catching wonders of nature. Beyond their beauty, there is a reason behind that pop of color. Male birds are typically the brightly colored ones, which helps them capture the attention of the females. Scientists have discovered, in some bird species, that the brighter the male, the better he is at finding a mate. We’ve rounded up some of the most common red birds that you can find in Tennessee.

1. Northern Cardinal

Commonly known as redbirds, Northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are the most common red colored bird you will find in Tennessee. Cardinals are non-migratory and can be seen in backyards and forests across the state throughout the year. Male and female cardinals have very different appearances. Males are bright red, while females are a grayish brown. You can identify females by their bright red bills.

Male cardinals are highly territorial during nesting season. The males are sometimes seen attacking their reflection in windows. They think they are fighting another male and will continue on at the risk of getting hurt. If you see a male cardinal attacking your window, there are various ways to hide the reflection. One suggestion is taping paper or newspaper to the outside of the window until the bird has lost interest.

2. Summer Tanager

Another striking red bird that can be found in Tennessee is the summer tanager (Piranga rubra). These ruby red birds are also known locally as summer redbirds. Unlike the cardinal, summer tanagers don’t live in Tennessee year-round. They migrate long distances in the winter, traveling through Mexico to reach their wintering grounds in South America.

You can start to see summer tanagers arrive in Tennessee in April. They will begin their winter migration in October. Only the males are bright red; the females are greenish yellow. Although they can be found throughout Tennessee, summer tanagers are harder to spot than cardinals. They prefer to forage for food in the upper branches of pine and deciduous forests.

3. Scarlet Tanager

Like summer tanagers, scarlet tanagers (Piranga olivacea) migrate long distances, arriving in Tennessee in April and staying through October. They spend their winters in northwestern South America. Scarlet tanagers are similar in appearance to summer tanagers, but can be identified by their black wings and tail. The males are bright red, but the females are greenish yellow with dark wings.

The males only have their striking color during the breeding season. When the breeding season ends, the males molt and are closer in appearance to the females. You will find scarlet tanagers in Tennessee in the eastern part of the state. They can be hard to spot because they like to stay at the tops of the trees in hardwood and pine forests. Scarlet tanagers feast on a variety of insects, including caterpillars, moths, and beetles.

4. Red Crossbill

The red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) gets its name from its crossed bill. They use their bills to get seeds out of pinecones by opening tightly closed cones. They are able to push the cone open and reach the seed inside. Because their main diet is from pinecones, they are nomadic, traveling where they can find pine trees.

Red crossbills are most commonly seen in Tennessee in the southern Appalachian Mountains. However, they might be rarely spotted in other areas of the state, especially during winter. If you’re hoping to spot a red crossbill in Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is likely your best bet. Only the males are red, and it’s a duller red color than some of the others on our list. Females are yellowish brown to olive brown.

5. House Finch

House finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) are not native to Tennessee, but they are abundant across the state. Originally found in the western U.S., a small number of house finches were released in Long Island, New York, in 1940. The finches thrived in the east and quickly spread from north to south and even into southern Canada. The first house finch was spotted in Tennessee in 1972. Today, they can be found in backyards across the state.

Though not entirely red, male house finches have red heads and red coloring around their breasts. Attracting house finches to your yard in Tennessee is as easy as putting out backyard bird feeders. They are particularly attracted to shelled sunflower seeds.

6. Red-Headed Woodpecker

Red-headed woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) can be identified by their ruby red heads. Unlike many other bird species, the males and females look the same. You are most likely to find red-headed woodpeckers in western Tennessee, although they may be occasionally spotted in other areas. They are found in the state year-round, but most commonly in winter. Red-headed woodpeckers are opportunistic feeders and eat a varied diet of insects, spiders, earthworms, berries, nuts, and seeds. They’ve even been known to eat bark and the eggs of other birds.

Unfortunately, populations are decreasing, not only in Tennessee but across the country and in Canada. Experts believe it’s due to habitat loss and competition with European starlings over nest cavities. Red-headed woodpeckers feed on insects and nuts. They are one of the few birds that will gather nuts in the fall to store over the winter. If you’d like to attract red-headed woodpeckers to your yard, try setting out suet or bird feeders with cracked sunflower seeds.

7. Purple Finch

Although they have purple in their name, purple finches (Haemorhous purpureus) are less purple and more raspberry red. The males sport bright colors, while the females are more brownish. In Tennessee, you will spot purple finches in winter. They arrive in October and stay through April. According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, “They winter in areas where food is available in woodlands or residential areas, and frequently visit bird feeders.” If you’d like to attract a purple finch to your Tennessee backyard, set out a bird feeder with black oil sunflower seeds.

The purple finch population is declining in Tennessee, which is believed to be due to competition for resources with house finches. Purple finches are beneficial to gardens because they feed on cutworms and caterpillars. They also eat weed seeds, reducing the amount of weeds in your garden.

8. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) aren’t entirely red. However, we feel the scarlet splash of red color across their throat is so stunning that they deserve to make the red bird list for Tennessee. These small birds migrate long distances across the Gulf of Mexico. They spend winters in southern Mexico and northern Central America. In the summer, they can be found in backyards and forests across Tennessee.

They are the only hummingbird to breed in the state. Their nests are so tiny that they have been described as walnut-sized. Ruby-throated hummingbirds eat small insects, tree sap, and flower nectar. The best place to find ruby-throated hummingbirds in Tennessee is in tree-filled suburban neighborhoods. If you’d like to attract a ruby-throated hummingbird to your Tennessee backyard, try setting out hummingbird feeders filled with sugar water.

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