10 Red Birds in Minnesota (with Pictures for Easy ID)

Minnesota supports a diverse group of red birds across its northern conifer forests, hardwood woodlands, river valleys, open countryside, and residential neighborhoods. Familiar year-round species such as the Northern Cardinal and House Finch are joined by colorful breeding birds like the Scarlet Tanager, winter finches from the boreal forest, and a handful of exceptionally rare visitors. Some species are brilliant red overall, while others show red limited to the head, breast, or forehead. This ID guide highlights the red birds most likely to be encountered in Minnesota and provides practical tips for identifying them in the field.

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

• Identification: Medium-sized songbird with a prominent crest and heavy conical bill; adult males are vivid red with a black face mask; females are grayish tan with red accents on the wings, tail, and crest.
• Field recognition: Often noticed by its saturated red color at feeders or in shrubs, a slightly hunched posture with the tail angled downward, and loud metallic “chip” notes.
• Where found: Widespread year-round across much of Minnesota in hardwood forests, woodland edges, farmsteads, orchards, parks, and residential areas with dense shrubs.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); common in Minnesota, where it has expanded its range across much of the state.

The Northern Cardinal is the most familiar red bird for many people in Minnesota and one of the state’s most recognizable year-round backyard visitors. This species measures 21 to 24 centimeters (8.3 to 9.4 inches) in length and has a long tail, a raised crest, and a thick, seed-crushing bill. Adult males are brilliant red across the body, wings, and tail, with the vivid plumage contrasting sharply against a black face mask around the bill. Females are primarily grayish tan but show clear red accents on the wings, tail, and crest, creating a softer yet distinctly red-tinged appearance. Juveniles resemble females but appear duller and browner, with less red and a darker bill.

Northern Cardinals are most often noticed perched low in shrubs, hopping on the ground, or visiting backyard feeders, where the saturated red of males stands out strongly against green foliage or winter snow. They move deliberately by hopping rather than walking and often perch with a slightly hunched posture and the tail angled downward before making short, undulating flights between nearby perches. Both sexes give sharp metallic “chip” calls that frequently reveal their presence before the bird is seen. The species forages opportunistically on the ground and in low vegetation, feeding on a wide variety of seeds, berries, and insects.

The Northern Cardinal is a permanent resident and common breeding species across much of Minnesota. It occupies hardwood forests, woodland edges, small rural and urban woodlots, farmsteads, orchards, parks, and residential neighborhoods, with the highest suitability in areas that provide dense shrubby cover for nesting and roosting. Although now well established across the east-central, central, south-central, and southeastern parts of the state, the species remains most abundant from the Brainerd area south to the Twin Cities and throughout southeastern Minnesota, becoming much less common across the forested north. Its steady northward expansion has been driven by warmer winters, forest fragmentation, and the widespread use of backyard bird feeders.

House Finch

Haemorhous mexicanus

• Identification: Small songbird with a short conical bill and fairly long tail; adult males show rosy red on the face, upper breast, and rump against a brown, heavily streaked body; females are gray-brown and streaked with no red.
• Field recognition: Often noticed at feeders, on the ground, or perched near homes in social groups, with bouncy undulating flight, frequent “cheep” calls, and the male’s red face and breast.
• Where found: Widespread year-round in Minnesota, especially in towns, cities, farmsteads, and other developed areas.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); common in Minnesota, less common in the extensive forests of the north, though it continues to expand.

The House Finch is a common red-tinged bird, especially around feeders and homes where males often give the impression of a small brown bird washed with red on the front. It measures 13 to 14 centimeters (5.1 to 5.5 inches) in length and has a compact body, a fairly large conical bill, a somewhat flat head, and a relatively long tail with only a shallow notch. Adult males are mostly gray-brown with heavy streaking below, but they show rosy to bright red coloration on the face, crown, upper breast, and rump. This pattern creates a distinctly red front-facing impression even though much of the body remains brown. Females are plain grayish brown with thick, blurry streaking and no red.

House Finches are often easiest to identify by context as much as by plumage. They gather at feeders, forage on the ground, glean from foliage, and perch conspicuously in nearby shrubs, trees, or around buildings, often in noisy social groups. Their flight is bouncy and undulating, and the male’s red rump can stand out when the bird takes off or passes overhead. Both sexes give frequent sharp “cheep” calls, and males sing a hoarse, variable warbling song that often ends with a down-slurred note. The species feeds almost entirely on plant material, including seeds, buds, and fruit.

The House Finch is a permanent resident and common breeding species in Minnesota. It is present year-round, though some birds make short-distance movements south and the extent of seasonal movement is not well known. The species is closely associated with towns, cities, farmsteads, and other developed areas, where it nests in a wide variety of vegetation and on buildings, but it is scarce across the extensive forest landscapes of northern Minnesota. It remains common and adaptable in southern and central parts of the state and continues to expand northward.

Purple Finch

Haemorhous purpureus

• Identification: Medium-sized, chunky songbird with a thick conical bill and notched tail; adult males show raspberry-red concentrated on the head, breast, and upperparts; females are brown and gray with heavy streaking and a bold pale eyebrow.
• Field recognition: Often noticed at feeders or high in conifers, where the male’s reddish wash catches the light as birds hop and flit through branches; an undulating flight and sharp “tick” flight call help confirm identification.
• Where found: Occurs year-round in Minnesota, breeding mainly in the northeastern coniferous forests; present statewide during migration and winter, especially at feeders and in wooded habitats.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); uncommon and considered a Species in Greatest Conservation Need in Minnesota because of its documented long-term population decline.

The Purple Finch is one of the reddest birds in Minnesota, with males showing more extensive raspberry-red across the head and upperparts than the more familiar House Finch. This species measures 12 to 16 centimeters (4.7 to 6.3 inches) in length and has a stocky body, a short, powerful bill, and a distinctly notched tail. Adult males show raspberry-red coloration spread across the head, neck, breast, sides, and upperparts, contrasting with brown wings and a cloudy white lower belly and undertail coverts. Females and immatures are strongly patterned, with dark brown streaking over a gray background, a bright white belly, and a bold pale eyebrow that stands out against a dark ear patch.

Purple Finches are often noticed at backyard feeders or feeding high in coniferous trees, where their chunky build and rich reddish coloration help separate them from similar finches. Males often appear especially colorful when sunlight catches the head and breast, although the plumage usually looks softer and more wine-red than the bright scarlet of a Northern Cardinal. Birds move by hopping and short flits through branches, sometimes walking sideways along twigs, and their flight is strongly undulating. At feeders they readily take sunflower seeds, while in natural habitats they forage on buds, seeds, fruits, and insects in trees, shrubs, and occasionally on the ground. Males sing a rich, warbling song during the breeding season, and moving flocks often give a sharp “tick” flight call.

The Purple Finch is a regular breeding resident, migrant, and winter visitor in Minnesota. It breeds primarily across the Laurentian Mixed Forest of northeastern and north-central Minnesota, where it occupies a wide variety of coniferous and mixed forests, while occurring more widely across the state during migration and winter, especially at backyard feeders. Although less common than the House Finch, it remains a regular species in Minnesota. Long-term surveys indicate a gradual population decline, and the species is considered a conservation concern in Minnesota.

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

• Identification: Medium-sized songbird with a thick, rounded bill; adult males are vivid red with jet-black wings and tail; females are olive yellow with darker olive wings and tail.
• Field recognition: Most often detected high in the forest canopy by flashes of red as males change perches, a burry, robin-like song, and a harsh “chick-burr” call.
• Where found: Widespread during summer across the forested regions of Minnesota, especially in mature deciduous and mixed forests; absent from the Red River Valley of northwestern Minnesota.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); common in suitable habitat across Minnesota but dependent on large, mature forests.

The Scarlet Tanager is one of Minnesota’s most striking red summer birds, although its brilliant color is often glimpsed only briefly high in the forest canopy. The species measures 16 to 17 centimeters (6.3 to 6.7 inches) in length and has fairly stocky proportions, a large head, and a thick, rounded bill adapted for both insects and fruit. Adult males in breeding plumage are bright red across the body, sharply contrasted by jet-black wings and tail, creating one of the boldest red-and-black combinations among Minnesota songbirds. Females are olive green above with yellowish underparts and lack the strong contrast of males, allowing them to blend into the foliage.

Scarlet Tanagers are more often heard than seen because they spend much of the breeding season high among the leaves of mature trees. Males become most visible when singing from exposed perches or moving between branches, revealing flashes of brilliant red against the green canopy. Their song resembles that of an American Robin but has a distinctly hoarse, buzzy quality, and both sexes give a characteristic “chick-burr” or “chip-burr” call that often reveals their presence. During the breeding season, they feed primarily on insects captured by gleaning foliage or hawking flying insects from a perch, although they also take fruit, especially during migration.

The Scarlet Tanager is a regular breeding resident and migrant in Minnesota, occurring across much of the state in suitable forest habitat but largely absent from the Red River Valley and the most intensively cultivated landscapes of western Minnesota. It breeds in a variety of mature upland forests, including deciduous, mixed, and pine-oak woodlands, where nests are typically placed on horizontal branches high in large trees. Spring migration peaks in late May, while southbound birds begin departing by mid- to late August in northern Minnesota as they migrate to wintering grounds in northwestern South America. The species remains common in Minnesota within suitable habitat, but its reliance on large tracts of mature forest makes it sensitive to forest fragmentation.

White-winged Crossbill

Loxia leucoptera

• Identification: Medium-sized songbird with a crossed bill and bold white wingbars; adult males are pink to rose-red with black wings and tail; females are yellowish olive with the same strong wing pattern.
• Field recognition: Most often noticed as a bounding, chattering flock moving between conifers, with white wingbars flashing in flight and birds clinging acrobatically to cones while giving dry, metallic calls.
• Where found: Occurs erratically in Minnesota during summer, migration, and winter; found primarily in the coniferous forests of the north.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations in Minnesota fluctuate with cone crops, but the species remains a regular inhabitant of the state’s northern conifer forests.

The White-winged Crossbill is a highly distinctive red bird, although its appearance in Minnesota and abundance vary from year to year depending on cone crops. It measures 14 to 17 centimeters (5.5 to 6.7 inches) in length and has a stocky body, a slightly forked tail, and a heavy bill with crossed mandibles adapted for prying open cones. Adult males range from bright pink in fall and winter to deeper rose-red in spring and summer, with the color concentrated on the head, back, and rump and contrasting sharply with black wings and tail marked by two bold white wingbars. Females are greenish yellow to olive with the same striking wingbars, while immatures are browner with streaked underparts.

White-winged Crossbills are usually detected by movement and sound rather than by a single perched bird. Flocks travel between conifers in rapid, undulating flight, with the white wingbars standing out as the birds wheel overhead. When feeding, they climb actively through spruce and tamarack treetops, often clinging sideways or upside down while extracting seeds from cones with their specialized bills. They give dry, metallic flight calls, and birds sometimes descend to roadsides or other open areas to gather grit. Their diet consists primarily of seeds from spruce, tamarack, and occasionally balsam fir, supplemented by invertebrates and other seeds during summer.

The White-winged Crossbill is a regular but erratic breeding resident, migrant, and winter visitor in Minnesota. It occurs primarily in the coniferous forests of north-central and northern Minnesota, especially where black spruce, white spruce, tamarack, and balsam fir dominate the landscape. Most breeding records come from counties such as Cook, Itasca, Lake, St. Louis, Koochiching, Beltrami, and Roseau, with strong habitat associations in the Chippewa and Superior National Forests. Local abundance varies considerably from year to year as birds move nomadically in response to cone availability, but there is no evidence that the species’ overall distribution in Minnesota has changed substantially over time.

Red Crossbill

Loxia curvirostra

• Identification: Medium-sized songbird with a distinctive crossed bill; adult males are brick red to reddish overall with darker wings and tail; females are olive to yellowish with muted contrast.
• Field recognition: Most often noticed in chattering flocks high in conifers, with red males flashing color as they cling to cones or fly in tight groups, giving sharp, metallic flight calls.
• Where found: Occurs erratically in Minnesota during summer and migration, found mainly in the coniferous forests of the north and northeast.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); rare in Minnesota and nomadic behavior makes long-term population trends difficult to assess.

The Red Crossbill is an irregular but memorable red bird in Minnesota, where wandering flocks may appear unexpectedly whenever cone crops are favorable. This stocky finch measures 14 to 20 centimeters (5.5 to 7.9 inches) in length and has a short, deeply notched tail and a unique bill with mandibles that cross at the tip. Adult males range from deep brick red to reddish or even yellowish tones, with the richest color on the head and body and darker brown wings and tail creating moderate contrast. Females are predominantly olive to grayish with greenish or yellow-green tones on the breast and rump, while immatures are browner overall with streaked underparts and buff-edged wing coverts.

Red Crossbills are usually detected by sound before color, as flocks give constant sharp, metallic contact calls while flying or feeding. The red males are most easily noticed while clinging to cones, using their crossed bills in a parrot-like manner to pry open scales and extract seeds. Birds move actively through conifer treetops, often hanging sideways or upside down while feeding, and their flights between trees are rapid and purposeful. They feed primarily on the seeds of spruce and pine, while also taking seeds of deciduous trees and some invertebrates during summer. Unlike most songbirds, they may nest during any season of the year when cone crops are sufficient.

The Red Crossbill is a regular but rare and erratic breeding resident and migrant in Minnesota. It occurs primarily in the mature coniferous forests of the north and northeast, especially where red pine, jack pine, spruce, and black spruce-tamarack forests provide abundant cone crops, but nomadic movements occasionally bring birds much farther south. Because breeding follows food availability rather than a fixed season, nesting records are scattered and unpredictable across the state. Its highly nomadic behavior and low numbers make changes in its distribution and population difficult to assess over time.

Redpoll

Acanthis flammea

• Identification: Small songbird with a short pointed bill, notched tail, two pale wingbars, a red forehead patch, and a small black bib; adult males of the widespread “Common” form also show rosy red on the breast and upper flanks.
• Field recognition: Usually noticed in restless winter flocks feeding acrobatically in birches, weedy fields, woodland edges, or at feeders, with rapid movements, undulating flight, and sharp buzzy calls.
• Where found: Occurs in northern Minnesota during migration and winter, becoming more widespread in southern parts of the state mainly during irruption years.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); common to abundant in northern Minnesota during migration and winter, though numbers fluctuate greatly between years.

The Redpoll is a regular winter bird with recognizable red markings, although it creates a less strongly red overall impression than the state’s cardinals, finches, or tanagers. It measures 11 to 14 centimeters (4.3 to 5.5 inches) in length and has a small head, a short pointed bill, a short notched tail, and two pale wingbars. Adult males of the widespread “Common” form usually show the strongest red coloration, with a bright red forehead and rosy red across the breast, upper flanks, cheeks, and sometimes the rump, set against a brownish, heavily streaked body and a neat black bib. Females usually show red only on the forehead and are otherwise brown and white with heavily streaked underparts, while juveniles initially lack the red forehead patch. The paler “Hoary” form appears whiter and grayer overall, and many intermediate-looking birds cannot be assigned confidently to one form in the field.

Redpolls are most often encountered in busy flocks moving quickly among birches, weedy fields, woodland edges, fence rows, and backyard feeders. They hop on the ground, cling to fine branches, and often hang upside down while extracting small seeds from catkins or seed heads. Their flight is undulating, and entire flocks may suddenly rise and swirl away before settling nearby. Sharp buzzy calls, rising whistles, rattles, and energetic chatter frequently reveal them before individual birds can be examined. Redpolls feed mainly on small seeds and buds during winter. Compared with the House Finch, the Redpoll is smaller, has a much finer bill, and shows a compact red forehead patch rather than extensive red across the head.

The Redpoll is a regular migrant and winter visitor in Minnesota, occurring mainly from early October through late May. It is common to abundant in northern Minnesota, where it frequents open woodlands, woodland edges, weedy fields, fence rows, and residential areas with feeders. The species is usually absent or scarce in southern Minnesota, but irruption years can bring flocks much farther south across the state. Its abundance varies markedly between winters as birds move nomadically in response to northern seed crops.

Pine Grosbeak

Pinicola enucleator

• Identification: Medium-large songbird with a thick, stubby conical bill and a long, slightly notched tail; males show rosy to carmine red with gray; females are gray with yellow to orange on the head and rump.
• Field recognition: Often first detected by soft, far-carrying flight calls or by slow, unwary feeding in treetops, fruiting trees, or on the ground, hopping among branches to nip buds and seeds.
• Where found: Occurs in northern Minnesota during migration and winter, found in coniferous, deciduous, and mixed woodlands; accidental in the south.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); uncommon in Minnesota, with winter numbers varying considerably from year to year.

The Pine Grosbeak is one of Minnesota’s largest red finches, though the male’s rosy coloration usually creates a softer pinkish-red impression than the brighter reds of cardinals or tanagers. This species measures 20 to 25 centimeters (7.9 to 9.8 inches) in length and has a heavy-chested body, a round head, a thick, stubby conical bill, and a long, slightly notched tail. Adult males vary from rosy to bright carmine red with gray on the chin and under the eye, while the wings are dark with two pale wingbars. Females and first-year birds are mostly gray, with yellowish to orange tones concentrated on the head, rump, and flanks, and they also show two pale wingbars.

Pine Grosbeaks are often noticed as large, slow-moving birds feeding quietly in trees or on the ground, with the male’s soft pinkish-red plumage standing out against snowy winter landscapes. Their presence is frequently announced by gentle flight calls as small groups move between feeding sites, but their tame behavior and unhurried movements often allow prolonged views. They forage methodically by hopping along branches to feed on buds, seeds, and fruits, and they are especially attracted to crabapple and hawthorn trees, where they extract the seeds from the fruit. Once a productive fruiting tree is located, birds often remain there for several days until the food source is exhausted.

The Pine Grosbeak is an uncommon migrant and winter visitor in the northern half of Minnesota, occurring mainly from mid-October through early April in coniferous, deciduous, and mixed woodlands. The most reliable viewing is from late December through March north of a line from Duluth to Bemidji, although some winters bring much larger numbers across the region. The species is accidental in southern Minnesota, where it appears only rarely. Winter abundance varies considerably from year to year as birds respond to changing food availability.

Summer Tanager

Piranga rubra

• Identification: Medium-sized chunky songbird with a thick, blunt-tipped bill; adult males are entirely rosy red; females are yellow to yellow-green.
• Field recognition: Often detected by the bright red male high in the forest canopy, a sweet robin-like song, and a distinctive clicking “pit-ti-tuck” call.
• Where found: Occurs in Minnesota during spring and fall migration, with occasional lingering birds in summer, most often in southern and central forested habitats.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); a very rare visitor in Minnesota with no established breeding population.

The Summer Tanager is the most uniformly red bird that birders are likely to encounter in Minnesota, although only as a rare visitor rather than a regular breeding species. This medium-sized songbird measures 17 to 19 centimeters (6.7 to 7.5 inches) in length and has a chunky build, a large head, and a thick, blunt-tipped bill. Adult males are uniformly rosy red across the body, wings, and tail, creating a smooth, saturated appearance without contrasting markings. Females are yellow to mustard yellow, while immature males often appear patchy, with mixtures of yellow and red during molt.

Summer Tanagers are often difficult to spot because they spend much of their time high in the canopy. Males are most easily detected when singing from exposed perches or moving between branches, as flashes of bright red stand out in sunlit foliage. Both sexes give a distinctive clicking call, often rendered as “pit-ti-tuck,” which frequently reveals the bird before it is seen. The species typically catches flying insects by sallying from a perch, especially bees and wasps, and also feeds on other insects, berries, and fruits.

The Summer Tanager is a very rare spring and fall migrant in Minnesota, with spring records greatly outnumbering those in autumn. Most observations come from southern Minnesota, the Twin Cities metropolitan area, and the North Shore of Lake Superior, although wandering individuals have been recorded elsewhere in the state. Birds occasionally linger into summer in suitable deciduous woodlands, parks, and oak-pine forests, but there is no established breeding population in Minnesota despite a few documented hybrid pairings with Scarlet Tanagers. Most spring migrants appear from late April through June, while fall migrants occur from late August into autumn, with occasional individuals lingering much later.

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

• Identification: Small flycatcher with an upright posture and broad bill; adult males show brilliant vermilion to scarlet underparts and crown with a dark facial mask and brown wings and tail; females are gray-brown with a salmon-red blush below.
• Field recognition: Most often noticed perched conspicuously on shrubs, fence lines, or low trees in open country, where the male’s intense red flashes during short sallies after flying insects.
• Where found: Occurs accidentally in Minnesota, recorded only on rare occasions, usually during fall vagrancy.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); exceptionally rare in Minnesota, with only a handful of accepted records.

The Vermilion Flycatcher is one of the brightest red birds ever documented in Minnesota, but it is also among the rarest, appearing only as an accidental visitor far outside its normal range. This small flycatcher measures 12 to 14 centimeters (4.7 to 5.5 inches) in length and has a compact, barrel-chested body, an upright stance, and a broad, straight bill. Adult males are vivid vermilion to scarlet across the crown and underparts, sharply contrasted by a dark facial mask and blackish-brown wings, back, and tail. Females are much more subdued, with grayish-brown upperparts, a pale eyebrow, and whitish underparts washed with pale salmon-red.

Vermilion Flycatchers are usually detected visually rather than by sound because they spend long periods perched in exposed locations while scanning for insects. The brilliant red plumage of an adult male is unmistakable when it launches into short flights to capture flying insects before returning to the same perch. Foraging consists mainly of quick perch-to-air sallies, although birds also take insects near the ground and may briefly hover during capture. During the breeding season, males perform fluttering display flights while singing, but Minnesota birds are most likely to be encountered as solitary vagrants rather than displaying individuals.

The Vermilion Flycatcher is considered an accidental visitor in Minnesota, with only a handful of accepted records. Most occurrences involve wandering birds well outside the normal range, typically during autumn, when the species is known to stray northward across the United States. Although individuals can appear almost anywhere in the state, records remain exceptionally infrequent and are not expected annually, making any Vermilion Flycatcher one of Minnesota’s most remarkable bird sightings.

Identifying Red Birds in Minnesota

Minnesota’s red birds range from familiar backyard residents to elusive northern finches and exceptionally rare visitors. Northern Cardinals and House Finches can be found year-round in many parts of the state, while Purple Finches, crossbills, Pine Grosbeaks, and Redpolls are most closely associated with northern forests or winter irruptions. Scarlet Tanagers brighten mature woodlands during the breeding season, whereas Summer Tanager and Vermilion Flycatcher are rare visitors that birders are fortunate to encounter. When identifying Minnesota’s red birds, pay close attention to the extent and shade of red plumage, wing patterns, bill shape, habitat, and season, as these features are often the quickest and most reliable ways to separate similar species.

For a broader perspective, explore our guide to red birds across North America, and visit the Birds of Minnesota and Birds of the United States pages for additional regional coverage.