Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

10 ha minimum forest stand size

      (Oak (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Assorted Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Upland Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      Mast

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: Because the tanager feeds on harmful insects in the tree canopy and has a marked preference for oak woodlands, Forbush affectionately called it "the appointed guardian of the oaks." However, maple and American beech are also common trees in deciduous woodlands inhabited by tanagers, and this species occasionally breeds in evergreen (pine or hemlock) forests. In the Atlas Habitat Survey the Scarlet Tanager was most frequently encountered in dry mixed (oak-pine) forest and dry deciduous forest followed by mesic deciduous and mixed forests.

Caterpillars, moths, Hymenoptera, and beetles predominate in the tanager's summer diet, but the birds are quite opportunistic in their foraging habits and may consume large numbers of locally abundant insects. Normal foods may be temporarily diminished during spring cold snaps. At these times, tanagers may resort to ground feeding on roadsides and lawns, taking ants, earthworms, beetles, and fruit in lieu of the normal arboreal prey. Persistent fruits such as sumac are especially valuable in spring, but mulberry, elderberry, and serviceberry are also taken when available in late summer and fall.

Studies have indicated that woodlots occupied by Scarlet Tanagers must be extensive. The minimum woodlot size seems to be about 10 ha, but 20 ha or more is probably optimal. Because of their requirement for extensive stands, Scarlet Tanagers are sensitive to forest fragmentation; this evidently explains their absence from heavily farmed and developed areas. A small amount of selective cutting is not necessarily detrimental to the species; Adams and Barrett (1976) actually found tanagers more numerous in selectively cut beech-maple woodlands containing a significant amount of white ash than in woodlands dominated by larger beech and maple trees.

Tall, mature trees are evidently required for tanager nesting. Anderson and Shugart (1974) examined 28 habitat variables in areas inhabited by tanagers and found that several variables reflecting large tree size (22.4 cm or greater dbh) were positively correlated with tanager abundance. The absence of mature trees probably contributes to the absence of the tanager from some blocks, especially in the southern LP.

Habitat: Breeding: Mature deciduous and mixed woodlands, roadside shade trees. Often in pine-oak and oak-hickory woodlands. Sixty-eight percent of 28 nests in oak-hickory woods and tamarack swamp were in trees with a dbh greater than or equal to 9 inches (23 cm).

Special Habitat Requirements: Deciduous or mixed woodlands.

Habitat: Forests and shade trees (especially oaks). Breeds mostly in deciduous forest, mainly where oaks are common but also in maple, beech, and other trees; sometimes in mixed pine-oak woods, and occasionally in coniferous woods dominated by pine or hemlock.

Diet: Mostly insects, some berries. In summer, feeds mainly on insects, including caterpillars, moths, beetles, wasps, bees, aphids, and many others; also some spiders, snails, worms, millipedes. Also eats wild fruits and berries, including those of mulberry, elder, sumac, and others.

Nest: Site is in tree (usually deciduous), typically 20-30 feet above ground, sometimes lower or much higher. Placed on horizontal branch, usually well out from the trunk. Nest is a shallow open cup of twigs, weeds, grass, lined with fine grass and rootlets.

Conservation Status: Seems to require large blocks of forest for breeding. Does poorly in smaller forest fragments, often being parasitized by cowbirds.