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 
Mr. Scarlet is a supermodel among birds. 🙂
Oh, that scarlet red coloring is truly gorgeous, I agree with you, Aura! 😊
Two great birds, the Summer with its slightly subdued red paired with that appropriately Scarlet with its black accent wings. Nice job getting them in the tin! Will never forget standing at Shell Mounds on Dauphin Island watching wave after wave of Scarlets come in signifying the official start of migration for them…probably near 200 of them. Take care!
Seeing nearly 200 Scarlets would truly be an amazing sight, lucky you, one for sure to never forget!!
Simply stunning
Thank you, Sheree!
Gorgeous! One of the hardest things about birding is finding the birds. They love to hide and move fast. Your closing shot is stunning, too.
Thank you, Egidio! I love when Spring blooms the trees and bushes, but it sure would be nice if the leaves would grow a little slower, ha! It’s now getting difficult, too many places to hide and tease us!
My Northern Cardinal “Red” is my favorite bird in my backyard. He’s been hanging out for two years. Today he chirped and chirped at me to fill the birdfeeder. He does that when I’m busy and forget to fill it first thing in the morning. I love all your red birds! Gorgeous photos.
Thank you! Do you talk to your cardinals? I do lol. I’ve even tried to whistle/chirp back at them. I’ve had some curious head-tilting done at me. They truly make me smile, I love my cardinals too!
I call “Hey Red” in a sing song voice whenever I see my cardinals. I am cutting back on birdseed to fill the feeder only in the afternoon because I have too many doves and other birds. I was filling it several times a day starting first thing in the morning. My husband said, “Why don’t you call Red and see what happens.” Just now I called “Hey Red” to an empty yard and Red, Mrs and their biggest fledgling flew to the branch above my head while I filled the bird feeder! AMAZING! They were first in, first out.
Such vibrant and beautiful colours Donna ! Such a blessing to observe them in your garden 😊
Thank you, Ashley! I am thankful for finding our ‘retirement’ property, we keep telling ourselves, it was meant to be with all that it has blessed us. 😊
Praise the Lord he is very gracious!😊
I really like the Northern Cardinals too Donna. The Cardinals and Jays are beautiful year-round, but especially in a snowy setting. I’ve never been lucky enough to see a Scarlet Tanager, like you were.
Beautiful
Wow.
Lovely red army of these birds!
Interesting to see the two toned youngster. A handsome bunch of reds, Donna!
Not seeing any tanagers, Donna, but the cardinals grace our bird feeder daily, several times. We’ve set the feeder up about three feet away from where we prepare food. They and several other birds provide constant entertainment! The tanagers are beauties.
Oh, those tantalizing tanagers!
Wonderful photos, Donna. Those brilliant red birds are breathtaking, and you captured them beautifully. What a treat to see both the Summer and Scarlet Tanager, it must have felt like pure magic. I’ve never seen birds this colourful here in Cyprus, and if I did, I know they’re not easy to capture.
Tanager, what a great bird. That good bye fly away is beautiful..
Awesome shots Donna!
Our own cardinals are at the bird feeder I type with junior flapping his wings for another sunflower seed.
Scarlet AND Summer Tanagers – in the same tree?? I am SO jealous.
Spring birds “flew” by and now all our locals are nesting and already feeding new kids. Time sure travels fast.