Red birds in Illinois
Illinois boasts a record of over 450 bird species, with at least ten showcasing a stunning red plumage. In this article, we will explore these red birds, their unique characteristics, and their importance in Illinois’s avian diversity.
The Big Five: Illinois’s Red Birds
These five fascinating red bird species found in Illinois are the Northern Cardinal, Scarlet Tanager, Red-headed Woodpecker, Summer Tanager, and House Finch. Each of these birds boasts striking plumage and interesting facts that make them an integral part of the region. With vast expanses of forests, wetlands, and prairies, Illinois offers ample opportunity for these birds to flourish and amaze birdwatchers, photographers, and biologists.
Northern Cardinal: The Emblem of Illinois
Description: One of the most well-known red birds, the male Northern Cardinal boasts vibrant red plumage, while females have subdued reddish-brown feathers. Both sexes have a distinct crest on their head, a black mask surrounding their beak, and a thick, orange-red bill. The Northern Cardinal is an iconic part of the region’s avian diversity. Northern Cardinals are found year-round in most suburban and rural areas across the state.
Fact: Extremely territorial, male Northern Cardinals can become aggressive towards their reflections, attacking windows and mirrors. Their loud, clear songs consist of a series of whistles that often include phrases like “cheer, cheer, cheer” or “whit-chew, wit-chew, wit-chew.”
Scarlet Tanager: (Piranga olivacea)
Description: The breathtaking Scarlet Tanager is easily identifiable with its radiant red body and black wings in males; females possess a more subtle olive-yellow plumage. They are elusive birds, making sightings all the more special. Habitat loss and climate change might pose challenges to these forest-dwellers’ survival, necessitating conservation efforts to protect them
Fact: Generally elusive, the Scarlet Tanager can be found high in the tree canopy, singing melodious, robin-like songs. They switch from an insectivorous diet in summer to a fruit-based diet in winter, even consuming toxic berries that are harmful to other species.
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
Description: The striking red head, white body, and black wings make the Red-headed Woodpecker an easily recognizable species. Sadly, Illinois has observed a decline in this bird’s numbers, mainly due to habitat loss and competition with other species, such as the European Starling. Aptly named for their brilliant red head, these striking medium-sized woodpeckers display black wings with large white patches and a mostly white body.
Fact: Equipped with remarkable memory and cache behavior, Red-headed Woodpeckers store food such as insects, nuts, and fruits in tree crevices. They are one of the few woodpecker species known to catch insects mid-flight due to their skillful and agile flying abilities.
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
Description: With rosy-red plumage in males and a yellow-orange shade with olive-green hues on females’ back, Summer Tanagers are distinctive forest-dwellers. Their breeding range extends from the southeastern United States into Central America. Young male birds may display a patchwork of red, orange, and yellow.
Fact: They have a unique feeding strategy, capturing bees and wasps on branches and neutralizing their stings by rubbing them against branches before consuming. Their song is a melodic, yet repeated series of phrases.
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
Description: House Finches are small, with males having red coloration around their face and upper breast, which spreads to their rump in some cases. Brown streaks mark their flanks, back, and belly. Females have brown-streaked plumage, with little or no red. Originally introduced to the eastern United States via the pet trade in the 1940s, House Finches have become familiar residents in many urban and suburban bird communities. With an estimated global breeding population of almost 59 million, these sociable birds can often be found in Illinois’s gardens and residential areas.
Fact: Originally found in western North America, they were introduced to the east by the pet trade in the 1940s and have rapidly expanded their range since. House Finches are social birds who frequent bird feeders and sing a cheerful, rapid, and complex song.
Each of these red birds is a captivating and integral part of Illinois’ bird-watching scene and contributes to the state’s diverse avian ecosystem. Observing these remarkable birds in their natural habitat is an inspiring and breathtaking experience for bird enthusiasts.
The Importance of Red Birds in Illinois
Red birds hold a special place in Illinois’s ecosystem and human culture. They play essential roles in the environment by pollinating plants, dispersing seeds, and controlling pest populations as predators or prey. Culturally, these birds have intrigued humans for centuries, featuring in various indigenous myths, folklore, and artistic expression.
However, numerous red bird species face challenges due to habitat loss, urban expansion, and climate change. Environmental organizations, bird enthusiasts, and researchers continue to advocate for their conservation. By preserving and promoting the world of red birds, Illinois can maintain not only a healthy avian ecosystem but also an incomparably picturesque landscape.
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
Description: The American Redstart is a small songbird with striking colors that contrast sharply. Males have predominantly black plumage, with vibrant red patches on their wings, flanks, and tail. Females and immature birds replace the black with grey, and the red patches with yellow or orangish hues.
Fact: American Redstarts are highly active and restless birds, often seen fanning their tails to flush out insects from foliage. Interestingly, they are one of the few wood-warblers that engage in open flycatching. Their distinct song often reveals their presence before a sighting occurs.
Habitat: They favor open forests and edges, especially riparian trees and shrubs, for nesting and hunting insects.
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
Description: Named for their peculiar ‘crossed’ bill, Red Crossbills exhibit sexual dimorphism in their plumage. Males are brick-red or orange, while females feature shades of yellow, green, or grey.
Fact: Their unique beaks have evolved to extract seeds from conifer cones, their main food source. They often move in large groups, singing in a jumbled series of notes, twitters, and trills.
Habitat: They typically reside in coniferous forests, and their nomadic behavior often depends on the availability of conifer cones.
Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
Description: Pine Grosbeaks are large finches with a plump body and robust, stubby bill. Males feature an elegant rose-red covering their head, back, and rump, with grey on their lower belly. Females and immature birds have grey to olive-yellow bodies with tints of yellow or red on their heads.
Fact: Pine Grosbeaks are not well studied due to their tendency to breed in remote, boreal forests. They are known to be calm birds that allow close approach by humans. Their diet consists predominantly of seeds, buds, berries, and insects.
Habitat: They inhabit pine, spruce, or mixed forests and often visit bird feeders in winters.
Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)
Description: These are small songbirds with a charismatic red-patch “poll” atop their heads, giving them their name. Both males and females have brown-streaked bodies, but males exhibit a raspberry-red wash on their chest.
Fact: Common Redpolls are inhibitive cold-weather champions. Their increased metabolic rate, coupled with a special pouch within their esophagus for storing seeds, helps them survive extreme northern winters.
Habitat: They breed in open subarctic coniferous forest and scrub, and during winters, they often inhabit open woodlands, fields, and gardens.
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
Description: The Red-breasted Merganser is a striking diving duck species. Males flaunt greenish-black heads, an elegantly thin reddish-brown neck, and white bodies with black streaks. The female has a greyish body, a rusty-cinnamon head with a shaggy crest, and a white neckband.
Fact: Red-breasted Mergansers sport the title of the “fastest duck”, having been recorded flying at speeds of up to 81 mph. They primarily eat fish, capturing prey with their long, serrated bills.
Habitat: They can be found on freshwater lakes and rivers, as well as saltwater estuaries and coastal waters.
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