Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) is in the Cardinals and Allies family (Cardinalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 20,820 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Scarlet Tanager: observations by month (U.S.)
About Scarlet Tanager
The scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea) is a medium-sized American songbird. Until recently placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), it and other members of its genus are now classified as belonging to the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). The species' plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family, although the Piranga species lacks the thick conical bill (well suited to seed and insect eating) that many cardinals possess.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Scarlet Tanager by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 2,155 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 1,626 | May | May–Jun |
| Texas | 1,571 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Ohio | 1,480 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 1,322 | May | May–May |
| Maryland | 1,206 | May | May–Jun |
| Illinois | 1,002 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 947 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 872 | May | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 713 | May | May–May |
| Vermont | 695 | May | May–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 653 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 649 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Tennessee | 640 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New Jersey | 574 | May | May–May |
| Florida | 489 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Georgia | 434 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Alabama | 362 | April | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 359 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Indiana | 351 | May | May–May |
| Connecticut | 338 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 330 | May | May–Jul |
| Maine | 313 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 293 | May | May–Jul |
| Kentucky | 246 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Missouri | 179 | May | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 157 | April | Apr–Jun |
| California | 133 | October | Oct–Dec |
| Iowa | 118 | May | May–May |
| District of Columbia | 103 | May | May–May |
| Rhode Island | 92 | May | May–Jun |
| Arkansas | 87 | May | Apr–May |
| Mississippi | 81 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Delaware | 55 | May | May–May |
| Nebraska | 55 | May | May–May |
| South Dakota | 32 | May | May–May |
| Oklahoma | 24 | May | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 21 | May | May–May |
| North Dakota | 14 | May | May–May |
| Arizona | 13 | December | Oct–Dec |
| New Mexico | 10 | May | May–May |
| Kansas | 8 | May | Apr–May |
| Oregon | 8 | December | Dec–Dec |
| Montana | 6 | May | May–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Cardinals and Allies)
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Summer Tanager
Painted Bunting
Black-headed Grosbeak
Western Tanager
Blue Grosbeak
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Scarlet Tanager?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Scarlet Tanager most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Pennsylvania, Texas.