Texas is a great place for spotting red birds, whether you’re in the woods, out in the desert, or even walking through your neighborhood. Thanks to the state’s size and range of habitats, a surprising number of colorful species call Texas home at different times of the year. From the bright flash of a Northern Cardinal in your backyard to the deep red of a Summer Tanager hidden in the trees, there’s always something to look for if you take your time.
Even in the dry landscapes of west Texas, you can find desert birds like the Pyrrhuloxia bringing a splash of color to the scenery. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common and interesting red birds you can find in Texas.
1. Northern Cardinal
- Scientific name: Cardinalis cardinalis
- Life span: 7-10 years
- Size: 8-9 inches (21-23 cm)
- Weight: 1.5–1.7 ounces (42–48 grams)
- Wingspan: 9.8-12.2 inches (25-31 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
- State status: Breeding and common
- Migratory behaviour: Stays year-round; does not leave Texas.
The Northern Cardinal is one of the most recognized birds across the eastern and central United States, including all of Texas. Males are a vibrant, unmistakable red with a black mask around the face, while females wear a softer, warm brown with touches of red on their wings and crest. Both sexes have a strong, conical orange-red bill and a tall, pointed crest.
These cardinals stay in Texas year-round, bringing color and energy to backyards, woodlands, and brushy areas in nearly every part of the state.
Northern Cardinals build their nests in dense shrubs, vines, or small trees, usually just a few feet off the ground. The female does most of the building, weaving together twigs, grasses, and bark into a deep, protective cup. Males stay nearby, ready to chase off any would-be intruders that come too close to their precious nesting territory.
Their diet is mostly seeds, fruits, and insects, which they pick carefully from trees, shrubs, and the ground. They especially love sunflower seeds at feeders but will also hunt beetles, caterpillars, and grasshoppers during warmer months. Their strong, thick bills are perfect for cracking seeds, and during breeding season, the extra protein from insects is key for raising healthy chicks.
Northern Cardinals have adapted well to suburban expansion, maintaining strong populations across Texas. They once struggled with habitat loss in some areas, but their ability to thrive in gardens, parks, and wooded patches has made them one of the most stable and recognized songbirds. Conservation concerns for this species remain low, though healthy green spaces are vital to their long-term success.
2. Summer Tanager
- Scientific name: Piranga rubra
- Life span: 4–6 years
- Size: 6.7–7.5 in / 17–19 cm
- Weight: 1.1–1.4 oz / 30–40 g
- Wingspan: 11–12 in / 28–30 cm
- Status: Least Concern
- State status: Breeding and common
- Migratory behaviour: Leaves by late summer for Central and South America.
The Summer Tanager brings a splash of deep red to the woodlands of the southern United States, breeding from Texas eastward across the Southeast. Males are almost entirely rose-red, creating a bold sight among the green leaves.
Females, in contrast, are a golden yellow, making identification easy even from a distance. Their smooth plumage and sturdy build give them a solid, slightly stocky appearance. During the summer months, they favour open woodlands, river edges, and scattered groves throughout much of Texas.
Summer Tanagers prefer to nest high up in the open branches of large deciduous trees, often selecting an exposed, horizontal limb. The female carefully weaves a loose cup of grasses, vines, and plant stems. Nests can sometimes be tricky to spot, blending almost perfectly with the foliage during the lush Texas spring and early summer months.
Their diet is specialized, focusing heavily on wasps and bees, which they catch mid-air and expertly disarm by rubbing them against branches. They also eat other insects like beetles and caterpillars, and will add berries and fruits later in the season. Their preference for flying insects keeps them busy flitting from tree to tree in open woodlands and parks.
Historically, Summer Tanagers have benefited from the growth of parks and woodland edges, expanding their range in some areas. Although habitat destruction could pose a threat in the long run, currently, they are considered stable in Texas. Conservation efforts mainly involve preserving large stretches of mixed forests and protecting migratory routes critical to their survival.
3. Scarlet Tanager
- Scientific name: Piranga olivacea
- Life span: 5–10 years
- Size: 6.3–7.5 in / 16–19 cm
- Weight: 0.8–1.3 oz / 23–38 g
- Wingspan: 9.8–11.4 in / 25–29 cm
- Status: Least Concern
- State status: Migratory and rare
- Migratory behaviour: Passes through during migration; gone by late spring and fall.
Scarlet Tanagers are striking but somewhat elusive birds that migrate through Texas, mainly during spring and fall. Breeding primarily in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, they appear only briefly in Texas during migration.
Adult males in breeding plumage are vivid red with jet-black wings and tails, giving them a dramatic appearance. Females are olive-yellow with darker wings. These tanagers prefer staying high in the forest canopy, so spotting one during its Texas stopover feels like finding a hidden gem.
Scarlet Tanagers build their nests high in the dense canopy of mature forests, often choosing horizontal branches well away from the trunk. Their nests are flimsy-looking shallow cups made from twigs, rootlets, and grasses, but they are carefully positioned to sway lightly with the branches and remain hidden from predators.
During migration through Texas, Scarlet Tanagers feed mostly on insects, catching flies, caterpillars, and beetles among the leaves. They will also eat small fruits and berries, especially during the later stages of migration when insects are less plentiful. Their foraging style is quiet and deliberate, often going unnoticed unless you spot the flash of red among the green.
Scarlet Tanagers have seen population declines due to habitat fragmentation, both on breeding grounds and wintering areas. They are still considered fairly common but are sensitive to the loss of large tracts of unbroken forest. Maintaining healthy woodlands across North America is critical for this brilliant, secretive migrant’s continued success.
4. Vermilion Flycatcher
- Scientific name: Pyrocephalus rubinus
- Life span: 4–8 years
- Size: 5.1–5.5 in / 13–14 cm
- Weight: 0.4–0.5 oz / 12–14 g
- Wingspan: 9.4–10.2 in / 24–26 cm
- Status: Least Concern
- State status: Breeding and uncommon
- Migratory behaviour: Some migrate south in fall; others stay year-round.
The Vermilion Flycatcher is a desert gem found mostly in the southern and western parts of Texas. Males wear a brilliant red body with dark brown or blackish wings, while females show softer peachy underparts and grayish backs.
They are often seen perched low on fences or shrubs, making their colourful plumage easy to admire. Vermilion Flycatchers are more common in open areas like desert washes, scrublands, and parks, and their vivid flashes of color are a welcome sight across arid Texas landscapes.
Vermilion Flycatchers build their nests on horizontal branches of small trees, often near open fields or water. The nest is a tidy cup woven from grasses, feathers, and plant fibers, often decorated with bits of lichen or spider silk. Their bright presence contrasts with the muted desert landscapes where they quietly raise their families.
Their diet consists mainly of flying insects like flies, bees, and dragonflies, which they snatch from the air in agile, acrobatic flights. They often return to the same perch after a quick foraging dive, sitting alertly while scanning for more prey. Their feeding style is energetic but surprisingly methodical compared to the chaos of some other flycatchers.
Vermilion Flycatchers have adapted well to ranchlands, parks, and desert towns across Texas. While their populations are generally stable, loss of open scrub habitats could pose a risk in the future. Efforts to preserve native desert ecosystems support not only flycatchers but countless other wildlife dependent on these fragile landscapes.
5. Painted Bunting
- Scientific name: Passerina ciris
- Life span: 5–8 years
- Size: 4.7–5.5 in / 12–14 cm
- Weight: 0.5–0.6 oz / 14–17 g
- Wingspan: 8.7–9.1 in / 22–23 cm
- Status: Near Threatened
- State status: Breeding and common
- Migratory behaviour: Leaves by early fall for Central America.
Painted Buntings are often described as one of North America’s most colourful birds, and they breed widely in eastern Texas. Males are a living rainbow, sporting a deep blue head, bright red underparts, and green back. Females and immature males are a soft, leafy green, blending into dense thickets. These buntings prefer scrubby edges, woodland openings, and weedy fields, where their vibrant or subtle colors can either dazzle or disappear depending on the viewer’s luck and patience.
Painted Buntings usually nest in dense shrubs or low trees, preferring overgrown fields, woodland edges, or thickets. The female selects a spot well hidden among foliage, weaving a deep, secure cup from grasses and plant stems. Nest sites are often surprisingly low, sometimes just a few feet off the ground, offering good camouflage.
Their diet changes with the seasons. Insects dominate during the breeding season, providing critical protein for raising chicks. Later, seeds and grasses become their mainstay, especially during migration. Painted Buntings forage mostly on or near the ground, moving cautiously through brushy cover where their brilliant or green plumage helps them stay hidden
Painted Buntings are listed as a species of concern in some areas due to habitat loss and illegal trapping in Central America. In Texas, strong breeding populations persist, especially where thickets and overgrown fields are preserved. Ongoing conservation efforts aim to protect both breeding and wintering habitats to secure their future.
6. Hepatic Tanager
- Scientific name: Piranga flava
- Life span: 5–7 years
- Size: 7.1–8.3 in / 18–21 cm
- Weight: 1.1–1.4 oz / 30–40 g
- Wingspan: 11.8–12.6 in / 30–32 cm
- Status: Least Concern
- State status: Breeding and rare
- Migratory behaviour: Leaves by late summer after breeding in west Texas.
The Hepatic Tanager is mainly found in the mountains and forests of western Texas, particularly in the Trans-Pecos region. Males show a muted, dark red overall coloration with grayish wings and back, a tone much duller than the bright Summer Tanager.
Females and immatures are yellowish with hints of gray. Hepatic Tanagers favour pine-oak woodlands and often stay higher in the trees. Their name, “hepatic,” refers to the liver-coloured hue of the males, a fitting description of their earthy, subtle plumage.
Hepatic Tanagers build nests in pine-oak woodlands, favouring horizontal tree branches high off the ground. Their nests are solidly woven cups of grasses, bark strips, and plant fibers, built to withstand the gusty mountain breezes common in western Texas. The female handles construction, while the male often stays nearby to guard the area.
Their diet consists mainly of insects like beetles, caterpillars, and spiders, along with a smaller portion of fruits and berries. Hepatic Tanagers forage methodically, moving through trees and sometimes catching insects in midair. They are less frantic in their feeding compared to other tanagers, preferring slower, more deliberate movements among the canopy.
Hepatic Tanagers are rare breeders in Texas, mostly limited to the mountain ranges of the Trans-Pecos region. Although their global population remains stable, localized threats like forest fragmentation could affect them. Conservation focuses on preserving intact woodland habitats and maintaining the quiet, undisturbed environments they need to thrive.
7. Pyrrhuloxia
- Scientific name: Cardinalis sinuatus
- Life span: 5–8 years
- Size: 8.3 in / 21 cm
- Weight: 0.8–1.5 oz / 24–43 g
- Wingspan: 12 in / 30 cm
- Status: Least Concern
- State status: Breeding and uncommon
- Migratory behaviour: Stays year-round; does not leave Texas.
The Pyrrhuloxia, often called the “desert cardinal,” is a resident of the brushy deserts and scrublands of south and west Texas. It resembles a Northern Cardinal but wears a more muted gray body splashed with crimson on the face, crest, wings, and belly. Its stout yellow bill, thick and slightly curved, is perfect for seed-cracking. Pyrrhuloxias thrive in thorny, arid landscapes where few other birds add such bold flashes of color against the dusty backdrop.
Pyrrhuloxias nest in dense desert thickets, often choosing thorny mesquite or cactus for protection. Their nests are simple but secure cups built from twigs, grasses, and plant fibers, well hidden among prickly branches. Both parents share the duty of feeding the young, and nesting usually coincides with the desert’s spring rains when food is abundant.
Their diet is mostly seeds, especially during the drier months, supplemented by insects when available. They use their heavy, curved beaks to crack open tough seeds that other birds might struggle with. Pyrrhuloxias also forage for berries and small fruits, often hopping on the ground or flitting between low shrubs.
Pyrrhuloxias are stable across most of their desert range, including south and west Texas. They’ve adapted well to living near rural towns and ranchlands. Although not considered threatened, maintaining healthy desert scrub habitats is essential to supporting strong populations of these tough and beautiful desert survivors.
8. House Finch
- Scientific name: Haemorhous mexicanus
- Life span: 5–7 years
- Size: 5–6 in / 13–15 cm
- Weight: 0.6–0.9 oz / 16–27 g
- Wingspan: 8–10 in / 20–25 cm
- Status: Least Concern
- State status: Breeding and common
- Migratory behaviour: Stays year-round; does not leave Texas.
House Finches are widespread across Texas and much of North America, easily recognized by their friendly habits and cheery songs. Males sport rosy red on their heads, throats, and chests, blending into brown-streaked bodies, while females lack the red and are streaky brown overall.
Their small, conical bills and rounded heads make them a familiar sight at feeders, parks, and city gardens. Originally native to the western U.S., they’ve successfully expanded their range eastward, becoming a common urban bird.
House Finches nest readily in both natural and human-made structures, from tree branches to building ledges. Their nests are messy-looking but sturdy cups built from grasses, twigs, feathers, and even bits of trash. They often raise multiple broods in a season, making them one of the most prolific urban-adapted songbirds in Texas.
Their diet is primarily seeds, buds, and fruits, with occasional insects especially during breeding. They are common visitors to backyard feeders, where they enjoy sunflower seeds and millet. House Finches forage in flocks, moving through fields, gardens, and city parks with cheerful persistence and constant soft calls.
Once native only to the western U.S., House Finches have successfully expanded eastward after introductions in New York in the 1940s. In Texas, they are firmly established and widespread. Although susceptible to diseases like finch eye disease, their overall population remains strong across urban and rural landscapes alike.
9. Cassin’s Finch
- Scientific name: Haemorhous cassinii
- Life span: 6–7 years
- Size: 6–6.5 in / 15–17 cm
- Weight: 0.8–1.2 oz / 24–34 g
- Wingspan: 10.2–10.6 in / 26–27 cm
- Status: Least Concern
- State status: Migratory and rare
- Migratory behaviour: Rare winter visitor; leaves by early spring.
Cassin’s Finch is primarily a bird of the mountainous West, but it occasionally visits far west Texas, especially in winter. Males have a rosy red crown, throat, and breast, blending into streaked brown backs and wings. Females and young birds are brownish and heavily streaked, lacking the bright colors.
Cassin’s Finches are often confused with House Finches but have longer, straighter bills and a slightly heftier appearance. Their preferred habitats are high-elevation conifer forests, but they sometimes appear in lower elevations during cold months.
Cassin’s Finches build nests high in coniferous trees in their mountainous breeding grounds, but in Texas, they are mainly winter visitors. When nesting, they create neat, deep cups from twigs, grasses, and feathers, often hidden well among pine branches to avoid predators and the harsh elements of their cooler environments.
Their diet consists mainly of seeds from conifers, berries, and some insects during summer. In winter, especially in Texas, they forage for seeds on the ground or in low bushes. Their stout bills make them efficient at handling a wide range of seeds, adapting well to shifting winter conditions.
Cassin’s Finches are considered generally stable but are sensitive to habitat changes in their high-elevation breeding areas. As winter visitors to Texas, they are relatively rare but welcome sights. Ongoing monitoring of forest health and climate impacts is important for ensuring their continued survival across their wide western range.
Where to look for Red birds in Texas
Finding red birds in Texas is easier than you might think if you know where to go and what to look for. Start early in the morning when birds are most active, and bring a good pair of binoculars. Walk slowly, listen carefully for calls, and scan trees, shrubs, and open spaces. Red birds like cardinals, tanagers, and flycatchers often perch in plain sight but can also blend in surprisingly well with their surroundings.
Some of the best places to spot red birds include Lost Maples State Natural Area, especially during spring and fall migrations when tanagers are passing through. Big Bend National Park is perfect for seeing Pyrrhuloxias and Vermilion Flycatchers in desert habitats.
In east Texas, Sam Houston National Forest offers great chances to find Summer Tanagers and Painted Buntings. For an easy, local option, Lady Bird Lake in Austin provides plenty of cardinal sightings year-round.
Whether you’re deep in the forest or just visiting a local park, patience is key. Find a quiet spot, stay still, and let the birds come to you.
Conclusion
Texas is full of opportunities to see stunning red birds, from city parks to remote desert trails. With a little patience and a good eye, you can spot everything from the familiar Northern Cardinal to the rare Vermilion Flycatcher. Each sighting adds a splash of color to your day and a deeper connection to the wild spaces around you. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned birder, Texas offers something special every time you head outside.
