The scarlet tanager is a medium-sized songbird native to eastern North America. With its brilliant red body and black wings, the scarlet tanager is one of the most colorful birds in its range. While scarlet tanagers are not currently considered threatened, their populations have declined in recent decades likely due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Understanding what foods attract scarlet tanagers can help people provide the resources these birds need to thrive.
Fruit
One of the main foods that attracts scarlet tanagers is fruit. As migratory birds, scarlet tanagers follow the seasonal abundance of fruit. Their diet consists largely of insects in the summer breeding grounds. But during migration and wintering periods, they rely heavily on eating fruit.
Some specific fruits that scarlet tanagers readily eat include:
- Mulberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Elderberries
- Blueberries
- Serviceberries
- Wild cherries
- Grapes
These soft fruits provide essential carbohydrates that fuel the scarlet tanagers’ metabolic needs. The birds use their thin pointed bills to pierce the skin of the fruits to extract the sugars inside. Backyard fruiting shrubs and trees can be planted to attract tanagers during migration and winter.
Insects
While fruit comprises a major part of scarlet tanagers’ diet, especially in non-breeding seasons, insects are their primary food source during the summer breeding season. After migrating back to their breeding grounds in deciduous forests, the birds switch to eating mainly insects to get enough protein for egg production and nestling growth.
Some of the insects that scarlet tanagers prey on include:
- Bees
- Wasps
- Ants
- Flies
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Dragonflies
- Damselflies
- Cicadas
- Beetles
- Caterpillars
The birds forage for insects while flitting through the upper canopy of forests. Their insect diet consists mostly of bees, wasps, and flying ants which provide substantial protein. They also eat butterflies, moths, and dragonflies snatched out of the air. Providing a diversity of flowering plants and nesting boxes can help attract more insects to support breeding scarlet tanagers.
Nectar
In addition to fruit and insects, scarlet tanagers will supplement their diet with flower nectar, particularly during migration. Although not their primary food source, nectar gives the birds an energy boost from sugars. It also provides small amounts of amino acids and electrolytes.
Some flowering plants that provide nectar for scarlet tanagers include:
- Trumpet vine
- Honeysuckle
- Bee balm
- Cardinal flower
- Columbine
- Jewelweed
- Butterfly bush
These tubular flowers suit the scarlet tanager’s slender pointed bill. Backyard feeders with artificial nectar can also attract tanagers during migration. The artificial nectar should be diluted to 25% concentration to match natural flower nectar.
Sap
In early spring when few insects or fruits are available, scarlet tanagers will supplement their diet by eating sap. They use their bills to pierce holes in tree bark to drink the sugar-rich sap. Certain tree species bleed more sap which attracts more tanagers.
Some trees where scarlet tanagers commonly feed on sap include:
- Maples
- Elms
- Birches
- Willows
- Alders
The sap provides an important source of carbohydrates for the birds when other foods are still scarce before spring leaf-out. Landowners can encourage sap-feeding by protecting stands of mature softwood trees.
Seed and Suet
While not a significant portion of wild scarlet tanagers’ diets, backyard bird feeders with seed and suet can also attract them. They occasionally visit platform feeders stocked with sunflower seeds, peanuts, raisins, and dried fruit. Suet feeders may also draw in scarlet tanagers if they contain fruit bits along with suet.
However, platform feeding is not a major activity for scarlet tanagers. They prefer finding their own natural food sources in woodland habitats. But supplemental feeders may provide an occasional snack, especially during migration layovers in residential areas.
Conclusions
In summary, the foods that primarily attract scarlet tanagers are fruits and insects corresponding to their seasonal needs:
- Breeding season (late spring, summer) – Insects provide protein for reproduction. Caterpillars are particularly important for feeding nestlings.
- Migration and wintering (early spring, fall) – Fruits provide carbohydrates for fueling travel and winter survival.
Nectar and sap provide supplementary carbohydrates during lean periods. Backyard seed/suet feeders may provide occasional snacks but are not heavily used.
Landowners can best support scarlet tanager populations by providing habitat with a diversity of fruiting shrubs and trees mixed with insect-attracting flowers. Protecting mature, sap-producing softwoods also provides essential spring food. Focusing on preferred natural foods will help sustain scarlet tanager numbers and maintain their vibrant color in eastern forests.
