Tennessee's landscape hosts a variety of red birds, offering vibrant sights for bird enthusiasts. The Northern Cardinal, with its striking red plumage and black mask, is a common sight, often spotted around bird feeders. Scarlet Tanagers, notable for their bright red males and greenish-yellow females, inhabit deciduous forests and rarely visit feeders. Summer Tanagers, entirely red males and yellowish-green females, thrive in mixed woodlands, feeding on bees and wasps. Vermilion Flycatchers display vivid red colors and hunt insects aerially. House Finches, recognizable by their rosy red heads, adapt well to urban environments. These species represent just a glimpse of the red avian diversity awaiting discovery.
Northern Cardinal

The Northern Cardinal, known for its vivid red plumage and distinctive crest, is a common sight in Tennessee.
These birds, with their black masks and cone-shaped bills, are frequent visitors to bird feeders and thrive in habitats with open ground for feeding.
In Tennessee, Cardinals often nest about five feet off the ground and can raise multiple broods each year.
Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanagers, with their striking red males and greenish-yellow females and juveniles, are a vibrant part of Tennessee's avian community.
The male Scarlet Tanager stands out with its vivid red body and black wings, preferring the deciduous forests and suburban areas for nesting.
Unlike many other birds, they rarely visit bird feeders, choosing instead to feast on fruits in their natural habitat.
Summer Tanager

Continuing our exploration of Tennessee's red birds, the Summer Tanager offers a striking contrast with its entirely red male plumage and yellowish-green females. Found in Tennessee's oak, hickory, and mixed woodlands, this bird specializes in hunting bees and wasps in high treetops.
The Summer Tanager utilizes these habitats for breeding, thriving in open forests and low-elevation areas.
Vermilion Flycatcher

Often spotted in the southern landscapes of Tennessee, the Vermilion Flycatcher captivates with its vivid red male plumage and engaging aerial insect hunts.
This small flycatcher showcases a bright red plumage in males, while females are grayish-brown with pinkish-red underparts.
Their presence in dry habitats highlights their adaptability, making them a striking sight during their animated courtship displays and social insect-chasing endeavors.
House Finch

The House Finch, distinguishable by its rosy red head and upper breast, is a common sight in Tennessee's urban and suburban settings.
Females showcase brown plumage with streaks. These birds, with their notched tails and conical beaks, are adept at seed feeding and often the first to visit new bird feeders, making them a familiar presence in local gardens and parks.
American Robin

American Robins, with their distinctive rusty red breasts and dark heads, are a familiar sight across various habitats in Tennessee. Both male and female exhibit similar coloring, though females are slightly paler.
Commonly found but rarely visiting bird feeders, their diet primarily consists of invertebrates and fruit. These birds are easily recognized by their white throat, enhancing their identification in the widespread regions of Tennessee.
Purple Finch

Distinguished by their striking raspberry red plumage, male Purple Finches are a common sight in Tennessee, particularly around bird feeders during the colder months.
These birds prefer conifer trees and are drawn to sunflower seeds. Birdwatchers in Tennessee delight in observing both the brightly colored males and the subtly marked females, making the Purple Finch a celebrated part of the local avian community.
Red Crossbill

While the Purple Finch enjoys the bounty of Tennessee's bird feeders, the Red Crossbill thrives in the state's coniferous forests, adeptly harvesting seeds with its uniquely shaped bill.
Sporting crisscrossed bills, these birds efficiently extract conifer seeds, a feat facilitated by their specialized bills.
The male and female plumage differs, with males displaying red and females showing yellowish tones.
Red-bellied Woodpecker

Despite its name, the Red-bellied Woodpecker is more recognizable by the vibrant red on its head rather than its belly. Common at Tennessee bird feeders, these woodpeckers relish peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet.
Their distinctive call, a shrill tchur, and bold patterning with a black back make them easily identifiable. Both males and females display striking red but differ in placement.
Red-headed Woodpecker

Moving from the red highlights of the Red-bellied Woodpecker, the Red-headed Woodpecker presents a striking contrast with its entirely red head and black back. Recognizable by their 'tchur' call, these woodpeckers inhabit Tennessee forests, particularly beech forests that produce beechnuts.
Unfortunately, habitat loss has led to a decline in their population, making sightings increasingly rare. Their bold coloration remains a notable sight in Tennessee's avian diversity.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak, known for its striking red breast and black wings, is a robust bird with a large triangular bill that frequents Tennessee's bird feeders.
Males display a vivid red breast mark, while females are heavily streaked with a white eyebrow.
They are particularly fond of sunflower seeds, making them a favorite among Tennessee birdwatchers for their colorful and engaging presence.
Painted Bunting

Among the most visually striking birds in Tennessee, the Painted Bunting captivates with its vivid and multicolored plumage. This species thrives in woodlands, brushy roadsides, abandoned farms, and grassy areas.
Males showcase a brilliant mix of blue, green, yellow, and red. Their diet can include black oil sunflower seeds, and they occupy different wintering grounds based on their breeding locations.
Common Redpoll

Shifting focus to another species, Common Redpolls offer a fascinating glimpse into the adaptability of small birds during Tennessee's colder months.
Sporting distinctive white and brown plumage with a red forehead patch, these birds frequently visit bird feeders, favoring Nyjer and sunflower seeds.
Their long-distance travels bring them to Tennessee's coniferous forests, where they thrive amidst the harsh winter conditions.
Pine Grosbeak

Exploring the Pine Grosbeak, observers note its robust size comparable to a robin and a distinctively round, red head in males. These finches thrive in the evergreen, mountainous forests of the Northern U.S., showcasing striking gray plumage with white wing bars.
Both males and females contribute to the vivid tableau of red heads moving through dense, coniferous landscapes.
Are the Types of Red Birds in Tennessee and Georgia Similar?
In Tennessee and Georgia, the types of red birds in Georgia share some similarities with those in Tennessee. Both states boast a variety of red-feathered birds such as the Northern Cardinal, Scarlet Tanager, and Red-headed Woodpecker. Their vibrant plumage adds color to the southern landscape.
Pyrrhuloxia

Moving southward from the Pine Grosbeak's northern habitats, the Pyrrhuloxia graces the southwestern United States and northern Mexico with its unique red accents and gray plumage. This medium-sized bird, with its distinctive appearance featuring red markings, inhabits mesquite savannas, riparian woodlands, and residential areas.
The Pyrrhuloxia adds vibrant diversity to the avian populations in its range.