The Summer Tanager is the only entirely red bird in North America — the adult male is a rich, uniform rosy-red all over, without the black wings of the Scarlet Tanager, while the female is a warm mustard-yellow. Both have a fairly stout, pale bill. A bird of open woodlands, it forages deliberately in the canopy and is a specialist at catching bees and wasps, which it snatches in flight, beats against a branch to remove the sting, and swallows, even raiding wasp nests for the larvae.
A southern species at the northern edge of its range, the Summer Tanager occurs in Michigan as a rare visitor and occasional breeder, appearing mostly from spring through summer in open deciduous and pine-oak woodlands, sometimes as an overshooting migrant in spring. Its all-red male (or mustard-yellow female) and bee-hunting habits make it a distinctive and exciting find. Any Summer Tanager in the state draws attention, especially a glowing red male singing from a woodland edge.
Specializes in bees and wasps, catching them in flight and removing the stingers by beating them against a perch before eating, and raids wasp and bee nests for larvae. It also takes other insects and fruit, foraging deliberately in the canopy of open woodland.
The male Summer Tanager is entirely rosy-red, including the wings, while the male Scarlet Tanager is brilliant red with black wings and tail. Female Summer Tanagers are mustard-yellow; female Scarlet Tanagers are more olive-yellow with darker wings.
Yes. The Summer Tanager is a specialist bee and wasp hunter, catching them in flight, beating them against a branch to remove the sting, and even raiding nests for larvae. This diet is characteristic of the species.
As a rare visitor and occasional breeder, mostly spring through summer, at the northern edge of its range, sometimes as a spring overshoot. Any Summer Tanager in the state is a notable sighting.
It is a first-summer male, molting from the female's mustard-green plumage into adult red. The patchy in-between stage lasts through the bird's first spring and is one of the more memorable sights a Michigan birder can stumble onto.
Other birds you might be looking at instead.
Pick the park — it takes less than ten seconds.
Start typing the bird's name, then pick it from the list.
Suggest a birding spot to add to the map. I'll review it before it appears.
Thanks! Your suggestion has been sent for review.
Found something wrong or out of date? Tell me what to fix — it goes straight to my inbox. (No email needed.)
Thank you — your note is on its way. I appreciate the help keeping this accurate.