ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Summer Tanager

Summer Tanager

Photo by Todd Fink/Daybreak Imagery

Part of the robin-like song complex, the song of the summer tanager may be one of the harder ones to learn in Ohio, as it is similar to the American robin and not particularly distinctive. In this case, the call is easier to learn than the song -- it is a diagnostic, mechanical-sounding pit-a-tuk-tuk.

Listen

Summer Tanager

Piranga rubra

At-a-Glance

• Peak Breeding Activity: April-August

• Incubation: 12-13 days

• Clutch Size: 2-4 eggs

• Young Fledge: 8-10 days after hatching

• Typical Foods: insects and fruit

Description
Male summer tanagers are all red with a pale bill. Females have olive-green upperparts and yellow underparts.

Habitat and Habits
The summer tanager inhabits upland oak-hickory woodlands.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
The female builds a nest on a horizontal branch. Both parents feed the young, although the female does most of the work.