Let’s Hear It For The Reds
I love birds in vibrant reds. If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I simply adore my year-round, backyard Northern Cardinals.
Northern Cardinal (male)
Mother’s Day, May 10
During May, two other red male birds arrive that I always have high hopes and fingers crossed in seeing wherever I’m birding.
And wouldn’t it be even more awesome to see both walking my backyard birding trails?
Rewind….back to May 5, 2026.
I’m looking for warblers in my backyard. (of course 😉)
I hear a Summer Tanager. Yep, Merlin heard it too!
Where, where are you?
Bingo!
The male Summer Tanager.
This is young male who was a dull yellow as a juvenile and now changing over into his adult full body of strawberry-red.
Summer Tanager eating a bug
“Hi there!”
Above him, another flash of bright red caught my eye, high up in the same tree.
What?? No way!!
Now I am in panic mood, lol, ‘cuz I have got to get a photo!
High in the tree top was a male Scarlet Tanager, aptly named for its vivid scarlet red coloring.
Scarlet Tanager
I tried and tried for more photos of Mr Scarlet, but he and Mr Summer were on missions to eat and moving further from me, appearing to be flocking together.
I did get one more worthy photo, a final shot of Mr Scarlet.
Bay Photos by Donna 