Once the trees of the northern hardwood forest have leafed out, getting a good look at the insectivorous birds of the canopy can be an exercise in frustration. Knowing their songs and calls can be a great help in knowing if the birds are there, but the location of sounds can be deceptive, and these birds are constantly flitting about in their hunt for prey. If you see brilliant red in the tree tops and have enough patience, you’ll be rewarded with a view of the “Firebird” of the northern hardwoods, the Scarlet Tanager. 

Scarlet Tanager male in flowering northern red oak

Scarlet Tanager male eating an insect

Scarlet Tanager male foraging for insects

Scarlet Tanager male taking flight