12 Types of Red Birds You Can See in North America

North America supports a wide variety of red birds that occur in many different habitats and situations across the United States and Canada. These include cardinals often seen at feeders and in shrubby areas, tanagers of forest canopies, several finches of woodland and open habitats, and, more rarely, striking red waders in coastal wetlands. This ID guide focuses on the species most likely to match a red first impression and explains how to identify them using practical, field-based clues.

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 wings, tail, and crest.
• Field recognition: Often noticed by its saturated red color at feeders or in shrubs, a hunched posture with tail angled downward, and loud, metallic “chip” notes.
• Where found: Widespread across the eastern and central United States and southern Canada in shrubby habitats, forest edges, and residential areas.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations are stable to increasing across much of its range.

The Northern Cardinal is the most familiar red bird for many people in North America and is often the species they mean when searching for a bright red one. This medium-sized songbird 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 overall, with the color extending across the body, wings, and tail and sharply contrasting with 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 but still distinctly red-tinged appearance. Juveniles resemble females but appear duller and browner, with less red and a darker bill.

In the field, Northern Cardinals are most often noticed perched low in shrubs, hopping on the ground, or visiting bird feeders, where the saturated red of males stands out strongly against foliage or snow. Cardinals move deliberately, hopping rather than walking, and often perch with a slightly hunched posture and the tail angled downward, making short, undulating flights between nearby perches. Both sexes give sharp “chip” calls that frequently reveal their presence before the bird is seen, especially away from feeders. They forage opportunistically on the ground and in low vegetation, taking seeds, fruits, and insects, and red plumage is maintained through the intake of carotenoid pigments during molt, which can influence color intensity.

The species occurs year-round across much of the eastern and central United States and extends into southern Canada, including southern Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritime provinces. It occupies a wide range of habitats with dense shrubs or small trees, including forest edges, hedgerows, riparian corridors, parks, gardens, and suburban neighborhoods. The Northern Cardinal is widespread and abundant across most of the range and has expanded northward over the past century, aided by warmer winters, increased edge habitat, and widespread use of backyard feeding stations.

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: Breeds across much of the eastern and southwestern United States and occurs locally in southern Canada during migration; favors open deciduous and mixed forests, especially near edges and streams.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); fairly common overall, with slight long-term increases despite localized declines tied to habitat loss.

The Summer Tanager is the most uniformly red bird encountered during the North American breeding season, especially when seen high in leafy forest canopies. This medium-sized species measures 17 to 19 centimeters (6.7 to 7.5 inches) in length and has a chunky build, large head, and thick, blunt-tipped bill. Adult males are uniformly rosy red across the body, wings, and tail, giving a smooth, saturated appearance without contrasting markings. Females are yellow to mustard yellow, while immature males can appear patchy, with mixtures of yellow and red during molt.

In the field, Summer Tanagers are often harder to see than their vivid color suggests 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’s presence before it is seen. The species forages by sitting quietly and then sallying out to catch flying insects, especially bees and wasps, or by moving deliberately along branches to glean prey from leaves and bark.

In North America, the Summer Tanager breeds widely across the eastern United States and parts of the Southwest, with breeding concentrated mainly south of southern Canada. It favors open deciduous forests, mixed pine-oak woodlands, and forest edges, and in western regions it is closely associated with riparian corridors lined with willows and cottonwoods. The species is strongly migratory, arriving on breeding grounds from late March to May and departing between August and October to winter in central Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Summer Tanagers are fairly common within suitable breeding habitats, and although some regional declines have occurred due to loss of riverside forests, overall populations have shown a slight long-term increase.

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: Breeds across eastern North America, including southern Canada and much of the eastern United States, in mature deciduous and mixed forests.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); overall populations are stable, though locally sensitive to forest fragmentation.

The Scarlet Tanager is a striking red bird of eastern forests during the breeding season, where the male’s intense color contrasts sharply with surrounding foliage. 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, set off by black wings and tail, creating one of the strongest red-and-black contrasts among North American songbirds. Females are olive green above with yellowish underparts and lack the bold contrast of males, blending more easily into the canopy.

In the field, Scarlet Tanagers are often more readily heard than seen because they spend much of their time high among broad leaves in mature trees. Males are most easily noticed when singing from exposed perches or shifting between branches, momentarily revealing flashes of red against the canopy. The song resembles that of an American Robin but has a distinctly hoarse, buzzy quality, and both sexes give a characteristic two-part “chick-burr” or “chip-burr” call that often reveals their presence. Scarlet Tanagers forage primarily in the mid to upper canopy, capturing insects by gleaning from leaves and bark or by short aerial sallies, and they also take fruit, especially during migration.

In North America, the Scarlet Tanager breeds widely across the eastern United States and southern Canada, from the Great Lakes and southern Ontario east to the Maritimes and south through much of the eastern forested region. It is most strongly associated with large tracts of mature deciduous or mixed deciduous-coniferous forest, particularly where canopy cover is continuous. The species is a complete, long-distance migrant, arriving on breeding grounds from late March to May and departing between August and October to winter primarily in northern South America. Scarlet Tanagers remain fairly common within suitable habitat, but their reliance on interior forest makes them locally vulnerable to habitat fragmentation.

Hepatic Tanager

Piranga flava

• Identification: Medium-sized songbird with a short, heavy bill; adult males are brick red to red-orange with contrasting dark lores and grayish ear coverts; females are olive yellow to ochraceous yellow.
• Field recognition: Often found in pairs or small groups in open mountain woods, moving slowly and deliberately through foliage; a sweet, caroling song and an abrupt “chup” call can help confirm presence.
• Where found: Occurs mainly in the mountainous Southwest, especially Arizona and New Mexico, with smaller local populations in California, Colorado, Nevada, and Texas; favors pine and pine-oak woodlands.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations are increasing overall with documented northward range expansion in parts of the southwestern United States.

The Hepatic Tanager is a localized red bird in the United States that occurs mainly in mountain forests of the Southwest, where the male’s warm, dusky tones stand out in open pine and pine-oak habitats. This medium-sized songbird measures 17 to 20 centimeters (6.7 to 7.9 inches) in length and has a solid build, a relatively long tail and wings, and a short, heavy bill. Adult males show brick red to red-orange plumage, brightest on the crown and throat, with contrasting dark lores and a grayish ear patch that gives the face a two-toned look. Females are olive yellow to ochraceous yellow, with a dusky ear patch and darker lores that echo the male’s facial contrast, while immatures are similar to females but duller.

In the field, Hepatic Tanagers often reveal themselves by slow, methodical movement within trees rather than constant flight. Birds forage by hopping deliberately through foliage and working upward through branches, sometimes sallying out to take insects in midair and sometimes scanning leaves and bark at close range. Pairs or small groups are typical, and the species can be conspicuous once located because the colors sit in the open canopy of pine and pine-oak woods. Vocal cues can be important in these habitats: the song is described as a rich, musical caroling, and the call is an incisive “chup” or “choop” that may be repeated often. Summer Tanagers can overlap in parts of the Southwest, but the adult male Hepatic Tanager is typically a duller brick red with stronger facial contrast and grayish cheeks, rather than an evenly rosy-red look.

In the United States, the species breeds from southeastern California and northern Arizona through New Mexico into parts of Colorado and west Texas, with local and sometimes uncommon occurrence in portions of Nevada. It uses open woods and forest edges, especially pine-oak forest and related montane woodland, and it also appears in migration at wooded stream corridors and desert oases. Movements vary by region, but spring migration is described from late March into early June, with fall migration from late August to the end of October. In parts of the northern range, some birds winter within or near the breeding region and only shift as far as needed to reach warmer conditions. Populations have increased overall, with documented northward breeding-range expansion since the 1960s, although habitat degradation and disturbance, including fire and human recreation, affect some local areas.

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 widely but irregularly across coniferous forests of the United States and Canada, from boreal regions to western and montane forests, with nomadic movements outside the breeding season.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations are generally stable to slightly declining, with local fluctuations driven by food availability and habitat changes.

The Red Crossbill is a frequent candidate for a reddish bird sighting in coniferous forests, especially when flocks appear unexpectedly far from their usual range. 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.

In the field, Red Crossbills are usually detected by sound before color, as flocks give constant sharp, metallic contact calls while flying or feeding. Observers most often notice the red males when birds cling to cones, using their crossed bills in a parrot-like manner to pry open scales and extract seeds. Crossbills move actively through treetops, often hanging sideways or upside down while feeding, and flights between trees are rapid and purposeful, sometimes with exaggerated undulations over short distances. In the morning, birds may descend to roadsides or open ground to gather grit, offering a rare opportunity for close views of plumage and bill shape.

In North America, the Red Crossbill breeds widely across mature coniferous and mixed forests from Alaska and Canada south through western mountains, the northern Great Lakes, New England, and parts of the Appalachians. The species is present year-round within much of this range but is highly nomadic, wandering in response to cone crop failures and sometimes irrupting far south or east of typical breeding areas during fall, winter, or spring. These movements can bring the species into towns, planted evergreen groves, and backyard feeders in some years. Overall abundance varies strongly by year and region, reflecting the unpredictable nature of conifer seed production and the species’ dependence on mature cone-bearing forests.

White-winged Crossbill

Loxia leucoptera

• Identification: Medium-sized songbird with a crossed bill and bold white wing bars; 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 wing bars flashing in flight and birds clinging acrobatically to cones while giving dry, metallic calls.
• Where found: Occurs mainly in boreal and montane conifer forests across Canada and the northern and western United States, appearing irregularly farther south during irruptive years.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations are considered stable overall but fluctuate strongly from year to year due to nomadic movements and variable cone crops.

The White-winged Crossbill is one of the most distinctive red-toned birds of northern conifer forests and is often sought by birders after an unexpected winter irruption. This species 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 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 wing bars. Females are greenish yellow to olive overall, with paler underparts and the same strong white wing bars, while immatures are browner with streaked underparts and paler-edged flight feathers.

In the field, the species is usually detected by movement and sound rather than by a single perched bird. Flocks travel together between trees in rapid, undulating flights, often well above the canopy during longer movements, and their white wing bars are conspicuous as they wheel and turn. When feeding, White-winged Crossbills work actively through spruce or tamarack treetops, clinging sideways or upside down as they pry seeds from cones, frequently using the bill to grip branches in a parrot-like manner. They give a variety of calls, including a dry, rapid flight call often described as “chut-chut-chut,” and males may sing from treetops or in flight, especially during the breeding season. Birds also descend to the ground at times, particularly in the morning, to gather grit along roadsides or open areas.

In North America, the species is most closely associated with boreal forests dominated by spruce and tamarack, breeding irregularly from Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland and south into parts of the northern United States and western mountains where suitable cone crops occur. South of the core boreal zone, breeding is sporadic and localized, depending on food availability. The White-winged Crossbill is highly nomadic and remains within or near breeding habitats year-round but may irrupt far south of its usual range when cone crops fail, sometimes appearing in planted evergreens, parks, towns, and backyard feeders. Local abundance varies dramatically between years, reflecting the species’ strong dependence on mature, cone-producing conifer forests.

Pine Grosbeak

Pinicola enucleator

• Identification: Medium-large songbird with a thick, stubby conical bill and 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 and on the ground, hopping among branches to nip buds and needles or visiting winter feeders.
• Where found: Breeds mainly across Canada and in western mountain forests of the United States, with most birds wintering near the breeding range but sometimes moving into the northern U.S. or farther south during irruption years.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); trends appear generally stable where monitored, but local occurrence varies widely and some populations are considered uncommon in the United States.

The Pine Grosbeak is a classic red bird of northern conifer country, but the red impression is usually softer than in cardinals or tanagers and often shows as pinkish-red set against gray. The 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 widely in North America, ranging from deep brick red in parts of coastal British Columbia to bright carmine across much of the range, with some populations showing more orange or yellowish tones; gray appears on the chin and under-eye area, and the wings are dark with two pale wing bars. Females and first-year birds are mostly gray, with yellowish to bronze color concentrated on the head, rump, and sides of the breast to flanks, and they also show two pale wing bars on the dark wings.

In the field, 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 tones standing out against gray plumage and winter foliage. Their presence is often confirmed by gentle flight calls as small groups move between feeding sites, but the birds themselves are typically conspicuous because of their size, tame behavior, and unhurried movements. They forage methodically, hopping along branches to nip fresh buds and newly grown conifer needles, or dropping to the ground to pick up seeds and fallen fruits. During the breeding season, males sing a rich, musical warble from prominent treetop perches, and in winter the species commonly forms small flocks that may visit salt or grit along roads and appear at sunflower seed feeders.

In North America, Pine Grosbeaks breed mainly in subarctic and subalpine conifer forests across Canada and Alaska, and also in scattered western mountain regions from the Pacific Northwest through the Rockies and into parts of the Southwest. Most birds winter within or near the breeding range, but the species regularly reaches southern Canadian provinces and the northernmost United States in winter, and occasional irruptions can carry birds farther south than usual, especially east of the Rockies. Habitat use centers on open spruce, fir, and pine forests and other northern conifer woods, while in the non-breeding season birds can appear more broadly in deciduous woods, willow thickets, parks, and suburban areas, especially where fruiting trees are available. In the United States, Pine Grosbeaks are generally uncommon and easily overlooked, and although much of the northern range is poorly monitored, available data indicate largely stable populations with strong year-to-year variation in local presence.

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 and fluttering display flights.
• Where found: Breeds locally from southern California and southern Nevada through Arizona and New Mexico into Texas; wintering birds also occur along the Gulf Coast and in parts of the Southwest.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); common overall, with U.S. populations roughly stable but with localized declines tied to loss of riparian habitat.

The Vermilion Flycatcher is one of the most striking red-and-black birds encountered in North America, and few species match the intensity of the male’s color when seen well. 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, scarlet, or orange-red on the crown and underparts, sharply set off by a dark mask across the lores, cheeks, and nape, with the wings, back, and tail blackish brown. Females are much more subdued, grayish brown above with a pale eyebrow and faint wing bars, and whitish underparts washed with pale red or salmon tones and lightly streaked on the breast. Juveniles are brown and scaly above with spotted underparts.

In the field, Vermilion Flycatchers are usually detected visually rather than by movement, as they spend long periods sitting on exposed perches scanning for insects. The male’s bright red color stands out strongly against desert scrub, farmland, or riparian vegetation, especially when he launches into short, direct flights to snatch flying insects and then returns to the same perch. Foraging consists mainly of perch-to-air sallies, with prey captured in swift, direct flights, though birds also take insects from near the ground and occasionally hover briefly during capture. During the breeding season, males perform a distinctive flight display, rising well above the vegetation in a fluttering, undulating flight while singing, then descending back to a perch. Both sexes give sharp contact calls while foraging, and the male’s short, twittering song is often heard during display or from prominent perches.

Within the United States, the species breeds locally in southern California and southern Nevada, across much of Arizona and New Mexico, and into western and central Texas. It favors open habitats such as desert scrub, savanna, agricultural areas, parks, golf courses, and especially riparian corridors with scattered trees or shrubs. Many populations are resident, but birds at the northern edge of the breeding range show seasonal movement, and winter records extend along the Gulf Coast and into parts of the Southwest and California. The Vermilion Flycatcher is common across much of its broader range, but in the United States it is localized, and losses of native riparian woodland due to water management and land development have contributed to declines in some areas, particularly along the lower Colorado River.

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: Breeds widely across Canada and locally in the northern and western United States, and winters irregularly across much of the eastern and southern United States as well as the Pacific Coast.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations have declined in parts of eastern North America, with competition from House Finch considered a contributing factor.

The Purple Finch is the reddest member of the genus Haemorhous and is often the species people mean when they recall a red finch, especially when a male is seen at the right angle. 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 that spreads fairly evenly 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 on the back and flanks, a bright white belly, and a prominent pale eyebrow that stands out against a solid dark ear patch. Western birds tend to appear darker overall than eastern birds, but the basic pattern remains the same.

In the field, the species is often noticed either at backyard feeders or feeding high in trees, where its size and chunky build distinguish it from similar North American finches. Males can appear surprisingly red when sunlight hits the head and breast, but the color usually looks softer and more wine-colored than the fiery reds of cardinals or flycatchers. Birds move by hopping and short flits through branches, sometimes walking sideways along twigs, and their flight between trees is strongly undulating. At feeders, they favor black oil sunflower seeds and often linger, cracking seeds deliberately. In natural settings they forage on buds, blossoms, and seeds high in the canopy, and they occasionally sally out from a perch to catch insects. Males sing a rich, warbling song from treetops during the breeding season, while a sharp “tick” flight call is commonly heard from moving flocks.

Purple Finches breed mainly in cool, moist coniferous forests across much of Canada, with additional breeding in mixed forests of the northern United States and in western mountain and coastal forests. During winter, the species occupies a much broader range of habitats, including deciduous woods, shrublands, weedy fields, forest edges, and suburban areas, and it often appears at feeders. Winter distribution is erratic, with numbers fluctuating widely from year to year depending on food availability, and birds may be common one winter and nearly absent the next in the same location. In the eastern United States, Purple Finches are now less common than in the past, and long-term monitoring indicates a sustained decline, likely influenced in part by competition with House Finch.

Pyrrhuloxia

Cardinalis sinuatus

• Identification: Medium-sized, crested songbird with a short, yellow bill; adult males are gray with prominent red on the face, crest, wing linings, and a red stripe along the underparts; females are mostly gray with reduced red.
• Field recognition: Often noticed as a gray-and-red bird flushing from shrubs or feeders, showing flashes of red in the wings and tail during short, undulating flights and giving sharp, cardinal-like “chip” notes.
• Where found: Resident of the southwestern United States, mainly Arizona, southern New Mexico, and much of Texas, in desert scrub, open mesquite woodland, dry grasslands, and cactus-rich habitats.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); declining across parts of its range in recent decades, with losses linked to large-scale conversion of desert scrub and grassland habitats.

The Pyrrhuloxia is a distinctive southwestern cardinal relative that often appears red-and-gray at first glance, particularly when flushed or flying. This medium-sized songbird measures 19 to 22 centimeters (7.5 to 8.7 inches) in length and has a stocky body, a long tail, a thin but prominent crest, and a short, heavy, parrotlike yellow bill. Overall plumage is grayish brown to brownish gray in all ages and seasons, but adult males show concentrated red on the forehead, lores, eye-ring, malar region, crest, and wing linings, along with a narrow red stripe running from the chin through the center of the underparts. Females are similar in structure but lack red on the face and underparts, showing only muted reddish tones in the wings, while immatures resemble females with little or no red.

In the field, Pyrrhuloxias are often first noticed when they move abruptly from low shrubs, cactus, or feeders, revealing red flashes as they flutter up and then glide away. Their flight is short and undulating, with a few quick wingbeats followed by a glide, and in these moments males can look distinctly red-and-gray rather than simply gray with red accents. On the ground, they hop while foraging, and they also move deliberately through low vegetation and open trees. Males frequently sing from exposed perches such as mesquite tops or cacti, giving ringing, metallic notes and short, reedy phrases similar to but less full than those of the Northern Cardinal, while both sexes give sharp chip calls that often reveal their presence. Feeding is largely opportunistic, with birds taking seeds on or near the ground and in vegetation, as well as large insects and fruits when available.

In the United States, the Pyrrhuloxia is a sedentary resident of the Southwest, breeding across southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and much of Texas south of the central plains, with highest densities in the lower Rio Grande Valley. It occupies desert scrub, open mesquite woodland, dry grasslands with scattered shrubs, agricultural areas with hedgerows, and residential areas where native desert vegetation remains. Seasonal movements are limited, though some individuals wander short distances after breeding or shift locally in winter toward areas with more cover or water. Although still locally common in suitable habitat, the species has shown long-term declines in parts of its range, reflecting widespread loss and fragmentation of desert scrub and grassland ecosystems.

American Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

• Identification: Very large wading bird with extremely long legs and neck and a thick, sharply bent bill; adults are bright pink to pinkish red overall, sometimes appearing deep red in certain light.
• Field recognition: Usually noticed by its tall, stilt-legged silhouette in shallow water or by its goose-like honking calls; in flight, long neck and legs extend straight, and the bird can look strikingly red at dawn, dusk, or sunset.
• Where found: In the United States, occurs mainly in southern Florida, especially Florida Bay and the Florida Keys, using shallow coastal lagoons, salt pans, and estuaries.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); globally stable overall, with a small but increasing presence in Florida following long historical absence.

The American Flamingo is an unusual but increasingly relevant species you can see in the United States, especially in shallow coastal wetlands of southern Florida, where it may appear vividly red under favorable light. This species measures 120 to 145 centimeters (47.2 to 57.1 inches) in length and is instantly recognizable by its extremely long legs, elongated neck often held in an S-shape, and heavy bill bent sharply downward at the midpoint. Adult plumage is bright pink to pinkish red on the head, neck, body, wings, and tail, with intensity varying by individual and lighting; at low sun angles, the color can appear almost scarlet. Females are similar but smaller, while juveniles are gray-brown with limited pink tones and only gradually acquire adult coloration over several years.

In the field, American Flamingos are most often detected at a distance, standing or slowly walking in shallow saline water while feeding. They typically forage with the head and much of the neck submerged, filtering water and mud through the bill while walking steadily forward, and they may tread the substrate to stir up prey. When flushed, they take off with labored wingbeats and then settle into steady flight, often traveling in loose lines reminiscent of geese. Both perched and flying birds give loud, goose-like honks and braying calls that can carry far across open wetlands. The pink to red plumage is derived from pigments in their diet of aquatic invertebrates and plant material, which helps explain variation in color intensity among individuals.

In the United States, the American Flamingo is primarily associated with southern Florida, where it occurs along coastal wetlands, Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay, the Everglades, and the Florida Keys. Historically native to the state, the species was largely eliminated by hunting by the early 20th century but has reappeared in recent decades, with increasing numbers documented. Birds in Florida are considered highly dispersive, arriving as vagrants, following storms or hurricanes, or moving locally among suitable wetlands rather than undertaking regular long-distance migrations. Although Florida supports only a very small fraction of the global population, recent observations indicate a gradual return of the species to parts of its former range within the state.

Scarlet Ibis

Eudocimus ruber

• Identification: Medium-sized wading bird with a long, downcurved bill and long legs; adults are intensely scarlet red overall with contrasting black tips to the outer flight feathers.
• Field recognition: Typically noticed as a vivid red bird standing out sharply among flocks of White Ibises; in flight, the red body contrasts strongly with black wing tips and pale surroundings.
• Where found: In North America, appears only as a very rare and irregular visitor or hybrid-associated bird, most often reported in coastal wetlands of southern Florida.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); not established in the United States, with North American occurrences linked to introduction history and hybridization rather than natural range expansion.

The Scarlet Ibis is the rarest and most striking red bird you may encounter in North America, most often prompting surprise when a single bright red individual appears among White Ibises. This wading bird measures 55 to 76 centimeters (21.7 to 29.9 inches) in length and has the classic ibis silhouette, with a long, slender neck, elongated legs, and a strongly downcurved bill. Adult plumage is an intense, uniform scarlet red across the head, neck, body, wings, and tail, broken only by black tips on the outer flight feathers. Legs are reddish, and the bill is black in breeding adults, becoming pinkish or reddish in non-breeding condition. Immature birds look very different, with brownish streaking on the head and neck, gray-brown upperparts, and mostly white underparts often mottled with pink.

In the field, Scarlet Ibises are most often detected visually rather than aurally, as they are generally quiet away from breeding colonies. Observers usually notice the species when a single red bird is embedded within a flock of White Ibises, where the color contrast is unmistakable even at long range. Like other ibises, it forages by walking slowly through shallow water or exposed mud, probing with the bill while moving steadily forward, often in small to medium-sized flocks. In flight, birds travel purposefully between roosting and feeding areas, alternating flapping with gliding, and flocks may form loose V-shapes or irregular lines. Flight calls are low, nasal grunts that are rarely helpful for identification in North American sightings.

Within the United States, Scarlet Ibis does not have a natural, self-sustaining population and is best regarded as an exceptional and irregular presence. Most reports come from southern Florida, where birds have appeared in coastal wetlands, mangroves, and mudflats. Modern records are strongly linked to historical introduction efforts, escape from captivity, and subsequent hybridization with White Ibis rather than natural dispersal from the Caribbean or South America. As a result, sightings in North America are biologically unusual and sporadic, and the species remains an exceptional outlier within Florida’s ibis assemblage rather than a regular part of the continent’s avifauna.

Recognizing Red Birds in the Field

Recognizing red birds in the field begins with color but rarely ends there. Paying attention to where the red appears, how intense it is, and when it is most visible, along with habitat, behavior, and context, provides the most reliable path to identification. Approaching red bird sightings this way helps separate common species from less expected ones and turns a brief color impression into a confident identification.