The Scarlet Tanager is another elusive bird that I have been pleased to see in person while walking in a forest preserve in Northeastern Illinois. Being summertime, it was easier to spot the male because he was bearing his feathers of a red body and black wings. Due to spending some time reading about Scarlet Tanagers on allaboutbirds.org, we learned that after the breeding season, “adult males molt to female-like plumage, but with black wings and tail” (Allaboutbirds.org). Females are greenish-yellow, which helps them to blend into the forests that they choose to breed and nest inside. The forest gives them a good place to breed and to find insects to eat.
In “The Burgess Bird Book for Children,” Redcoat adds some action to the storyline as Peter Rabbit and Jenny Wren meet him with a wounded wing. After being questioned about the wounding incident,
“Broadwing the Hawk tried to catch me,” sobbed Redcoat. “In dodging him among the trees I was heedless for a moment and did not see just where I was going. I struck a sharp-pointed dead twig and drove it right through my right wing.”
Thornton W. Burgess, “The Burgess Bird Book for Children”, p. 143, Living Books Press.
After sharing his woes, Farmer Brown’s boy enters the forest easily spotting Redcoat with his scarlet feathers and compassionately helps him remove the twig from his wing.
Even if you cannot spot Redcoat in the woods, maybe you can listen for his call: Scarlet Tanager sounds on allaboutbirds.org
Here is a little more of what we gleaned about Redcoat:
Until next time, keep birding <3 Kate
The Burgess Bird Writing and Coloring Pages
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