Tanagers are brightly colored, medium-sized songbirds that belong to the family Thraupidae. This diverse family contains over 400 species that are found throughout North, Central, and South America. Several tanager species have breeding ranges that extend into the United States, primarily in the southern and southwestern states. However, some vagrant tanagers have been observed well outside their normal ranges, including in the state of Iowa.
Quick Answers
There are three tanager species that have been documented in Iowa as rare and accidental visitors: the Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, and Western Tanager. While not confirmed breeders in the state, individual tanagers likely wander into Iowa on rare occasions after the spring migration period. The most commonly reported tanager species in Iowa is the Scarlet Tanager, with nearly 100 documented sightings in recent decades. However, the chances of spotting a tanager during the breeding season in Iowa are very slim.
Tanager Species Documented in Iowa
Here are details on the three tanager species that have been observed in Iowa:
Summer Tanager
The Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) is a medium-sized tanager with a reddish-orange body and grayish wings and tail. It breeds in open woodlands across the southeastern United States and south to Central America. In Iowa, there have been around 30 reports of Summer Tanagers, mostly between May and August. Due to its southerly breeding range, these sightings likely represent wandering individuals or migrating vagrants outside the species’ core summer range.
Scarlet Tanager
The Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) is likely the most frequently observed tanager species in Iowa. Males are brilliant red with black wings and tail, while females are yellowish with olive-colored wings. Scarlet Tanagers breed in mature deciduous and mixed forests across eastern North America. There have been nearly 100 reports of Scarlet Tanagers in Iowa, with records in most months of the year. Many reports have occurred between May and July and may involve late-migrating individuals.
Western Tanager
The Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) is a striking yellow and red tanager of western North America. There have been around a dozen reports of Western Tanagers in Iowa, primarily in the spring and fall migration periods. These lost vagrants likely ended up in Iowa after getting blown off course during their migrations to and from their breeding grounds in the western mountains.
Habitats Used by Tanagers in Iowa
The tanager species documented in Iowa likely turn up in a variety of semi-open and woodland habitats while briefly passing through the state. Some key habitats to be on the lookout for tanagers in Iowa include:
- Mature deciduous forests with oak, maple, and hickory trees. Scarlet Tanagers prefer these forest types for breeding.
- Riverside cottonwood forests. Summer Tanagers use these open woodlands in their core range.
- Pine-oak woodlands. Western Tanagers may seek out these drier, open forests while wandering.
- Parks and residential areas with trees. Tanagers may stopover in areas with trees, shrubs, and feeders.
Focus your search efforts in areas with a diversity of trees, semi-open understories, and proximity to other habitat patches and features like waterways. Be on the lookout high in the treetops for a glimpse of color through the leaves.
Seasonal Occurrence and Breeding Status
In Iowa, tanagers are unlikely to be spotted during the winter months. The few records are primarily between April and August, with most reports occurring in May, June, and July during the height of spring migration and breeding activity. The peak observation months are:
- May: 22 reports total across all species
- June: 29 reports
- July: 19 reports
There are no confirmed breeding records of tanagers in Iowa. All documented occurrences likely represent wandering individuals or migrating vagrants. The regular breeding ranges of Scarlet, Summer, and Western Tanagers all lie well south and west of Iowa. However, the sporadic reports mean that birders should remain alert for these colorful songbirds during the spring and summer, especially later in the migration period in May and June.
Identification Tips
Identifying tanagers in Iowa can be tricky since they are rare and out-of-range. Here are some tips for confident identification:
- Size and shape: Tanagers are medium-sized songbirds, around 6 to 8 inches in length with stubby, cone-shaped bills. They have triangular silhouettes in flight.
- Color pattern: Look for distinctly colored plumages, especially reddish-orange, yellow, black, and olive-green.
- Behavior: Tanagers stay relatively high in the canopy and often forage along branches and leaves.
- Song: Listen for vocalizations like chips, buzzy trills, and melodic warbling songs.
- Time and location: Consider the time of year and habitat. Late spring reports in mature forests are more likely.
Consult field guides and online resources for more tips on identification. Pay close attention to plumage colors and patterns when differentiating between Summer, Scarlet, and Western Tanager species.
Where to Search for Tanagers in Iowa
While tanagers have turned up in many scattered locations across Iowa, there are several prime spots that have yielded multiple reports over the years. These sites may be among the best places to search for vagrant tanagers during spring and summer:
Location | Counties | Key Habitats |
---|---|---|
Mississippi River Valley (esp. Dubuque area) | Allamakee, Clayton, Dubuque, Jackson | Forested riparian areas, parks |
Central Iowa woodlands | Boone, Hamilton, Story, Webster | Deciduous forests, oak woodlands |
Western Iowa forests | Harrison, Monona, Woodbury | Riparian cottonwoods, oak bluffs |
Des Moines metro parks | Polk, Dallas, Warren | Parks, residential woods |
Focus efforts at habitats like mature riparian woods, hilly oak forests, forested parks, and suburban nature areas. Having a mix of habitat types and features in close proximity improves your chances by providing options for these vagrant songbirds.
Conclusion
In summary, Iowa birders have a very slim chance of encountering breeding tanagers during the summer months. However, vagrant sightings do occasionally occur, especially of Scarlet, Summer, and Western Tanagers. The optimum times are May and June during the late spring migration period. Prime spots include riparian corridors, oak bluffs, and other areas with mature deciduous or mixed forests. While highly unlikely, a lucky birder may just encounter one of these gorgeously colored songbirds passing through Iowa’s woodlands in spring.