13 Beautiful Red Birds in Florida [Images + IDs]

Florida is home to an array of bird species, many of which are known for their vibrant colors and unique features. Among these are the stunning red birds that grace the skies and foliage of the state. From the striking Northern Cardinal to the Scarlet Tanager’s fiery red plumage and the iridescent Painted Bunting, Florida is a haven for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. In this blog post, we will delve into the fascinating world of red birds in Florida, exploring their physical characteristics, habitats, behavior, and conservation efforts. Whether you’re an avid birder or simply appreciate the beauty of nature, this post will offer a glimpse into the stunning world of red birds in Florida.

Types of red birds in Florida?

The 13 types of red birds that can be seen in Florida are:

1. Northern Cardinal
2. House Finch
3. Summer Tanager
4. Scarlet Tanager
5. Vermilion Flycatcher
6. Painted Bunting
7. Red-headed Woodpecker
8. Red-bellied Woodpecker
9. Pileated Woodpecker
10. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
11. Purple finch
12. Common Redpolls
13. Scarlet ibis

Let’s now delve into the specifics and examine each of these species in more depth to learn all there is to know:

Northern cardinals

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• Scientific name: Cardinalis cardinalis
• Life span: Up to 15 years
• Size: 21 cm (8.3 in)
• Weight: 33-65 g
• Origin: Eastern and Central North America

The Northern Cardinal is perhaps the most well-known red bird in North America and one of the most frequent red birds in Florida.

The back and wing feathers of male Northern Cardinals are a somewhat deeper shade of red than the rest of their body.

They also have a black mask covering their whole face, from the bill to the neck.

While they also have a brilliant red beak, female Northern Cardinals are less vivid than males and have a more buff-brown body color.

In Florida, Northern Cardinals are common birds that may be observed all year long in parks, small woodlands, and gardens.

This red bird frequents bird feeders, and you may entice it with white millet or black oil sunflower seeds.

House finch

• Scientific name: Haemorhous mexicanus
• Life span: Up to 11 years
• Size: 12-15 cm (4.7-5.9 in)
• Weight: 16-27 g
• Origin: North America

The House Finch is a common red bird in north Florida, where it may be seen often in populated areas, including small towns and major cities.

The vivid red feathers on the head and upper breast of adult male House Finches may be used to identify them, however, sometimes they can be somewhat more orange or yellowish.

The females are duller and have brown backgrounds with whitish streaks.

This red bird was formerly thought to be a western species, and it wasn’t until the 1940s that it was found in New York and other locations along the US east coast.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the eastern House Finch population started to increase, and by 2000, it had moved so far west that it had made contact with the original western population.

The House Finch only eats plants, primarily seeds, buds, and fruits.

You should anticipate House Finches to be among the first red birds to visit a bird feeder you place in your garden.

Florida is home to the House Finch all year round. Although it is not a migratory bird, it does travel to places with a greater food supply after the mating season.

Summer tanager

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• Scientific name: Piranga rubra
• Life span: Up to 8 years
• Size: 16 cm (6.3 in)
• Weight: 22-27 g
• Origin: North, Central, and South America

Florida’s Summer Tanager is a stunning songbird with a peaked crown.

While their wing feathers are significantly deeper in color, adult male Summer Tanagers are totally brilliant red.

As Summer Tanagers like to graze on the tops of deciduous and mixed woods, it might be challenging to see them.

Females and young are buff-yellow in contrast to males, however, they sometimes have a few areas of orange.

From May through August, you may see the Summer Tanager in Florida, where it breeds and spends the summer months.

There are several species of tanager, but most of them are tropical, and the only one that breeds in Florida is the summer tanager.

This red bird spends the winter season in Mexico and Central America after migrating alone from Florida in the autumn.

Scarlet tanager 

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• Scientific name: Piranga olivacea
• Life span: Up to 10 years
• Size: 18 cm (7.1 in)
• Weight: 22-28 g
• Origin: North, Central, and South America

The male Scarlet Tanagers’ vivid scarlet plumage contrasts with their coal-black wings and tail feathers to give them a tropical look.

Yet in contrast to the male’s stunning brilliant red color, the female is a more somber shade of olive-yellow.

The Scarlet Tanager spends its winters in Central and South America and comes to Florida in the summer.

This red bird prefers warm weather, so it comes later in the spring and departs earlier in the autumn. Scarlet Tanagers from Canada may be spotted traveling through Florida in the spring and autumn.

In order to mark and protect their area from other birds, both sexes sing a similar song.

Vermilion Flycatcher Male

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• Scientific name: Pyrocephalus rubinus
• Life span: Up to 8 years
• Size: 13 cm (5.1 in)
• Weight: 8-12 g
• Origin: North, Central, and South America

One of the most exquisite red birds that may be seen in Florida is the vermilion flycatcher.

The remainder of the adult male’s body is dark brown, with a bright red underside, neck, and crown.

On the other hand, females and immatures have light underparts and greyish-brown upper parts.

Vermilion Flycatchers are strictly migratory birds; they migrate to Central America for the winter, with just a small number staying in Florida.

This red bird’s lack of shyness is a beneficial trait since it often allows for easy observation from open perches.

The Vermilion Flycatcher prefers open woods and parks near bodies of water as its habitat.

Painted bunting

• Scientific name: Passerina ciris
• Life span: Up to 8 years
• Size: 11-13 cm (4.3-5.1 in)
• Weight: 12-17 g
• Origin: North America

Mature males have a dark blue hood that contrasts with their brilliant red chest, neck, belly, and rump. Their wings and backs have a yellowish-green color.

females and young birds have underparts that are buff yellow on top of a light green body.

Florida is home to the Painted Bunting’s nesting grounds from May through September.

It is a migratory bird, and most of its members spend the winter in Central America, with the exception of a small number of birds that stay in southern Florida.

Despite the male’s coloring, the Painted Bunting is difficult to view due to its reclusive behavior.

Its preferred habitat is at the borders of thick woods near bodies of water, adjacent to clearings.

Like other buntings, it mostly eats seeds outside of the mating season, when insects play a significant role in its diet.

Sunflower seeds or millet are good bird feeder attractants for this red bird.

Red-headed woodpecker

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• Scientific name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus
• Lifespan: Up to 9 years
• Weight: 70-96 grams
• Size: 44-56 cm
• Origin: North and Central America

One of the few non-dimorphic woodpecker species, the Red-headed Woodpecker has a similar appearance in both sexes.

Red-headed A woodpecker’s back is all black, with an all-red head. Moreover, they have black wings and a tail, as well as white breasts, rump, and belly. The bill and legs are grey.

No other woodpecker in Florida has an all-red head. The Pileated Woodpecker, in contrast, has a predominantly black head.

This bird prefers open woodlands or wooded areas with dead or decaying branches. In contrast to other woodpeckers that only use their nests once or briefly, it may use the same nest cavity for many years in a row.

In many areas of the united states, it was once the most prevalent woodpecker, but sadly, its population has dropped by more than 90%, making it now an uncommon sight.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

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• Scientific name: Melanerpes carolinus
• Lifespan: Up to 12 years
• Weight: 56-91 grams
• Size: 22-27 cm
• Origin: Eastern and Central North America

The Red-bellied Woodpecker has a white rump and a black-and-white “Zebra” pattern on its back.

Its crimson crown extends all the way to the neck’s base. While the female has a partly grey crown, both sexes have a similar appearance.

This woodpecker prefers Florida’s backyards with mature trees, shaded forests, and forest margins.

To find beetles, centipedes, spiders, and other insects, it drills holes in decaying wood.

This bird hides fruit and acorns in the cracks and crevices of trees for the winter. This bird excavates a new nest under the old one in the same tree each year.

They have a crimson tint on their belly might be difficult to discern until you get a close-up look.

Thankfully, this stunning bird, one of the most prevalent woodpeckers in Florida, is slowly increasing its range over the whole nation.

Pileated woodpecker

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• Scientific name: Dryocopus pileatus
• Lifespan: Up to 11 years
• Weight: 250-400 grams
• Size: 40-49 cm
• Origin: North America

A male Pileated Woodpecker’s scarlet mustache and brilliant red crest and forehead distinguish it from other woodpeckers.

While the white front edges of the wings shine brilliantly when the bird is in flight, the remainder of its body is largely black.

The Pileated Woodpecker, which is the biggest woodpecker in Florida and the one that is most often seen in wide areas of woods, is a very timid bird.

The Pileated Woodpecker drills circular holes in tree trunks that may be up to several feet long in search of insects to consume.

Large wood chips left on the ground near its feeding trees are a certain indication that Pileated Woodpeckers have been busy.

Its preferred diet is carpenter ants, and it feeds regurgitated insects to the young in its nest. Young woodpeckers essentially look like adults when they leave the nest.

Rose-breasted grosbeak 

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• Scientific name: Pheucticus ludovicianus
• Life span: Up to 8 years
• Size: 18 cm (7.1 in)
• Weight: 31-46 g
• Origin: North and Central America

Due to its distinctive markings and its powerful beak, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak may be readily recognized.

Adult males have flaming red breasts in the summer, which contrasts with their jet-black hood and back. They also have white wing bars on their black wings.

On the other hand, adult females and immatures have streaked brown feathers that are paler on the underside than on the back. They also feature a white wing bar and eyebrow stripe.

Due to its annual migration to Central America to spend the winter, this red bird may sometimes be sighted in Florida.

It is specialized in eating pine cone seeds, much like other Crossbill species.

Purple finch

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• Scientific name: Haemorhous purpureus
• Life span: Up to 7 years
• Size: 14 cm (5.5 in)
• Weight: 20-25 g
• Origin: North America

The purple finch is a beautiful tiny bird renowned for its unusual appearance. Despite having the name “Purple Finch,” these adorable tiny birds really have a pinkish-red color. Similar to other bird species, the females lack the rosy red coloring, while the males are more flamboyant and show off their gorgeous colors.
These finches often live in coniferous woods, shrublands, and fields, where they nest and perch while singing their lyrical songs. They are uncommon in metropolitan centers because they prefer to remain far from the activities of the human population.

Common Redpolls

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• Scientific name: Acanthis flammea
• Life span: 2 to 3 years
• Size: 4.5 and 5.5 in
• Weight: 12 and 16 grams
• Origin: southern Canada and the northern states

These common redpolls are distinguished by their red, white, and brown plumage, which includes a red and white forehead and breast, as well as brown and white wings. Females have a little patch on their forehead as well, but the rest of their body is brown and white.

A common redpoll may be found in boreal woods of pines, spruces, and larches.

These birds consume seeds from birch, alder, and spruce trees, as well as a variety of tiny invertebrates such as caterpillars, beetles, flies, and so on.

The highest lifespan for a redpoll was roughly 7 years and 10 months, however, the majority of redpolls spend far shorter lives, between 4 and 5 years.

Scarlet ibis

• Scientific name: Eudocimus ruber
• Lifespan: 16 years
• Size: 22 to 30 inches
• Native to: Northern South America southward along the coast of Brazil

The scarlet ibis is a huge, distinctive bird with a long neck, long legs, and a long, thin, decurved beak. It has webbed pink legs, a vivid red-pink tint for its plumage, and black wing tips. In general, guys are a little bit bigger than females.
Since being brought to Florida, the scarlet ibis has become a common sight in Southern Florida’s marshes, swamps, inland wetlands, lawns, and small ponds.
These birds are often seen wading in shallow water and using their long beaks to probe the mud and plants in search of food.
Scarlet ibises are excellent flyers, extremely migratory, and capable of traveling considerable distances while spending most of their time wading and strolling on the ground.
They may be seen flying in a traditional V formation in groups of thirty or more.
Because they are carnivores, scarlet ibises mostly eat fish, insects, frogs, crabs, mollusks, and tiny snakes.
Scarlet ibises are pink like the other Florida birds on our list because they consume crustaceans, which contain carotene.
Around mangrove woods, they create their colonies of nests using twigs and branches. Both mates will incubate the eggs and feed the chicks after the female lays a clutch of three to five smooth matte eggs.
The scarlet ibis is Trinidad & Tobago’s national bird.

Conclusion:

Florida is a great place to spot a variety of red birds. From the stunning Northern Cardinal to the iconic Scarlet ibis, there are plenty of opportunities for birdwatchers to see these beautiful birds in their natural habitats. With its diverse ecosystems, including wetlands, forests, and beaches, Florida is home to a rich variety of bird species. So, whether you’re a seasoned birdwatcher or a beginner, Florida is definitely a must-visit destination for spotting red birds.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What types of red birds can be found in Florida?

Florida is home to a variety of red birds, including the Northern Cardinal, Scarlet Tanager, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker,

What is the best time of year to see red birds in Florida?

The best time of year to see red birds in Florida is during the spring and fall migration seasons, which occur from March to May and from September to November, respectively.

Where is the best place to go birdwatching in Florida?

Some of the best places to go birdwatching in Florida include the Everglades National Park, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

What equipment do I need for birdwatching in Florida?

To enjoy birdwatching in Florida, you’ll need a good pair of binoculars, a field guide to birds, comfortable clothing and shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, and plenty of water.

Are there any rare red birds in Florida?

Yes, there are several rare red birds that can be found in Florida, including the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, the Florida Scrub-Jay, and the Bachman’s Sparrow. These birds are endangered and can be challenging to spot, but they are definitely worth looking for if you’re a dedicated birdwatcher.