Top 5 Red Birds in Alabama
Your simple guide to Alabama's most beautiful red birds
Alabama's red birds? Pretty spectacular honestly.
Been watching them around Birmingham for maybe six years. Saw this brilliant red cardinal at my feeder one morning and thought "okay, what else is out there?" started closer attention and picked up a paying pair of binoculars, I became completely absorbed.
This guide covers the Top 5 Red Birds in Alabama you'll actually see. What they look like, where they hang out, easy stuff. If you're into birds in other places, definitely check out Texas red birds or Michigan's blue birds . Totally different species. Oh and there's a great bird feeder guide if you need help picking gear.
What Are the Most Common Red Birds in Alabama?
Great question to start with.
The big five you'll see: Northern Cardinals (everywhere), Summer Tanagers (summer only), Scarlet Tanagers (passing through), House Finches (cities mostly), Purple Finches (winter visitors).
Cardinals win by a mile. They're the state bird for a reason - abundant, gorgeous, year-round.
1. Northern Cardinal - Alabama's Star
When people say "red bird" in Alabama, this is what they mean. The bright red bird commonly seen in Alabama .
What Is the Bright Red Bird Commonly Seen in Alabama?
Northern Cardinal. No contest.
Males are brilliant scarlet red all over. That pointy crest, black face mask, thick orange bill. When sunlight hits them? Stunning.
Females are tan-brown with red highlights on wings, tail, and crest. Still pretty but way more subtle. That orange bill stands out though.
About 8-9 inches. Substantial bird, easy to spot.
Are Red Birds in Alabama Year-Round or Seasonal?
Cardinals? Year-round absolutely.
They don't migrate. Same birds stick around January through December. One of the reasons they're so beloved - always here.
According to Cardinal research , they've actually expanded their range north as suburbs spread. They adapt well to living near people.
Where You'll Find Cardinals
Literally everywhere in Alabama. Cities, suburbs, farms, forests. Any habitat with some trees and bushes.
I see them daily in Birmingham yards, parks, anywhere with feeders. Drive through Montgomery? Cardinals. Out in the countryside? Cardinals everywhere on fence posts.
They love edge habitat - where woods meet open areas. Backyards are perfect for them.
What Cardinals Eat
Mostly seeds. Sunflower seeds are their favorite. That thick bill cracks seeds easily.
Also eat berries, some insects during nesting (babies need protein), fruit occasionally. At feeders they demolish black oil sunflower seeds. I go through maybe 20 pounds monthly.
They feed on ground a lot too - hopping around under feeders picking up dropped seeds.
Feeder tip: Platform feeders work best. Cardinals are kinda clumsy with tube feeders.
2. Summer Tanager - The All-Red Beauty
These might be the prettiest red birds in Alabama most people don't notice.
How They Look
Males are rose-red all over. Not bright scarlet like Cardinals - softer, more rosy. No crest, no black face. Just smooth red everywhere.
Females are mustard-yellow. Completely different. About sparrow-sized but chunkier.
Key difference from Cardinals? No crest, smoother red, smaller. Once you see one you won't confuse them.
When and Where
Summer visitors arriving April, gone by September. They breed across Alabama then head to Central America.
Love oak and pine forests. Stay high in trees singing - that robin-like song from the canopy. People miss them because they stay up high.
I find them in wooded parks, anywhere with mature trees. Oak Mountain State Park is great. Any forest with good tree cover works.
What They Eat
Insects. Almost entirely. Bees and wasps especially - they're one of the few birds actively hunting wasps. Catch a wasp, beat it against a branch to remove stinger, eat it. Pretty impressive.
Won't come to feeders. You need proper habitat - mature trees with good insect populations.
3. Scarlet Tanager - The Passing Migrant
Not year-round but worth knowing about. Gorgeous red-colored birds in Alabama during migration.
Identification
Males in breeding plumage? Brilliant scarlet-red body with jet black wings and tail. Absolutely stunning contrast.
Females are yellow-green with darker wings. Males in fall molt to yellow-green too.
About 7 inches. Robin-sized.
When to See Them
Migration only. April-May heading north, September-October heading south. They breed way up north, winter in South America.
Pass through Alabama forests. Look for them in wooded areas during migration. They're up in the canopy mostly.
Not common but if you're watching during migration you'll see them. That black-winged red bird? That's a Scarlet Tanager.
4. House Finch - The City Bird
Super common in Alabama cities now. Common red birds in Alabama urban areas.
What They Look Like
Males have red face, throat, and chest. Rest is brown-streaky. That red varies from bright to orange depending on diet.
Females are plain brown-streaky all over. No red at all. Small birds with stubby bills.
Originally western birds but spread east in the 1900s. Now everywhere.
Where to Find Them
Cities and suburbs. They LOVE urban areas. Feeders, parking lots, shopping centers, anywhere humans are.
I've got maybe 15-20 at my feeders constantly. They travel in flocks, chattering nonstop with that warbling call.
Year-round residents. Some northern populations migrate but Alabama birds stay put.
Do Red Birds in Alabama Visit Backyard Feeders?
Absolutely. House Finches are regular feeders.
Love thistle seeds and sunflower chips. They mob tube feeders in groups. Cardinals hit feeders hard too. Summer Tanagers don't use feeders at all.
So yeah, some do, some don't. Cardinals and House Finches? Daily visitors if you've got the right food.
Diet note: Better diet means brighter red males. Wild birds with good nutrition show better color.
5. Purple Finch - The Winter Visitor
Despite the name, males are raspberry-red. Winter addition to Alabama red birds .
How to ID Them
Males are rosy raspberry-red on head and breast. More extensive red than House Finches - like dipped in wine.
Females look like heavily streaked sparrows with bold face pattern. Thick bill, notched tail.
Bigger than House Finches, chunkier build. That red is more purple-pink than scarlet.
When and Where
Winter visitors only. Show up October-November, leave by April. They breed way up north.
Northern Alabama mostly. Less common in south. They like woods and feeders in wooded areas.
Some winters lots of them, other years barely any. Depends on food up north - bad seed crops mean more finches push south.
How Can I Identify Red Birds in Alabama?
Here's a quick reference for Alabama bird identification :
Quick ID Guide
Big red bird with crest and black face: Northern Cardinal (year-round, everywhere)
All rosy-red, no crest, in trees singing: Summer Tanager (summer only, forests)
Brilliant red with black wings: Scarlet Tanager (migration only, April-May, Sept-Oct)
Streaky brown with red face/chest: House Finch (year-round, cities)
Raspberry-red, chunkier finch: Purple Finch (winter only, northern Alabama)
ID tip: Crest = Cardinal. No crest but all red in summer = Summer Tanager. Black wings = Scarlet Tanager.
What Types of Red Songbirds Live in Alabama?
All five we covered are songbirds technically. Red songbirds in Alabama that actually sing.
Cardinals have that loud “what-cheer what-cheer” whistle. Both males and females sing - unusual since most female songbirds don't.
Summer Tanagers have robin-like songs from high in trees. Musical, warbling.
Scarlet Tanagers sing hoarse robin-like songs. Kinda raspy.
House Finches have warbling songs - fast, twittery, cheerful.
Purple Finches similar but richer, more musical than House Finches.
All songbirds. All sing to claim territories and attract mates.
Attracting Red Birds to Your Yard
Want these birds with red feathers in Alabama visiting? Here's what works.
Feeders and Food
Cardinals: platform feeders or large tube feeders. Black oil sunflower seeds, safflower. They'll eat from the ground too.
House and Purple Finches: tube feeders work great. Thistle seeds, sunflower chips.
Summer and Scarlet Tanagers: won't use feeders. Need proper habitat with trees and insects.
Water
ALL birds need water. Simple birdbath makes huge difference.
Keep clean - Alabama heat makes water gross fast. Change every 2-3 days. Shallow, 1-2 inches deep.
Cardinals especially love bathing. They'll spend 10 minutes splashing around.
Native Plants
This is huge. Native plants create native insects feeding birds. Even seed-eaters need insects during nesting.
Good Alabama natives: Dogwood (berries), holly (evergreen with berries), elderberry (birds love these), sumac (winter berries), beautyberry (purple berries).
Oak trees are essential. They support tons of insects. One mature oak feeds hundreds of bird nests.
Been converting my yard to natives four years. Bird activity increase is dramatic. Similar to results with Maryland birds or Maine species.
General Tips
Keep cats inside. Outdoor cats kill billions of birds yearly. Don't make your yard a cat feeding station.
Skip pesticides completely. You're poisoning the food chain. Bugs are features, not problems.
Provide cover with dense shrubs. Cardinals love thick evergreens for nesting.
Leave some "messy" areas. Brush piles, leaf litter, dead plant stems. Birds need this stuff.
Reality check: Takes time. Give it weeks for birds to find your setup. Be patient.
Seasonal Patterns
Red birds act different depending on season.
Spring - March to May
Cardinals start nesting. Males sing constantly claiming territories. Summer Tanagers arrive mid-April. Scarlet Tanagers pass through.
Best time for watching. Everything's active, singing, visible.
Summer - June to August
Peak nesting. Cardinals often do 2-3 broods. Summer Tanagers raising young in forests. House Finches nesting in cities.
Hot so water's important. Refill birdbaths daily.
Fall - September to November
Summer Tanagers leave. Scarlet Tanagers pass through heading south. Purple Finches start arriving from north. Cardinals form small family groups.
Winter - December to February
Cardinals year-round, active at feeders. House Finches stay put. Purple Finches at peak numbers. No tanagers.
According to bird biology research, birds need constant food to maintain body heat in cold weather.
Conservation Notes
Most Alabama red birds doing well population-wise.
Cardinals thriving - adaptable, doing great around humans. Summer Tanagers stable. House Finches super abundant.
Purple Finches have declined some in recent decades but still common. Scarlet Tanagers need mature forests - habitat loss is their main threat.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service monitors songbird populations.
What You Can Do
Plant natives supporting insects. Keep cats inside. Skip pesticides. Provide water. Support habitat protection.
Report sightings to eBird - free app helping real research. Even backyard observations contribute to science.
Even small yards make difference. You don't need acres.
Getting Started Birdwatching
Want to get into watching Alabama's red birds?
Get binoculars. Nothing fancy. 8x42 size works great.
Download Merlin Bird ID - free and amazing. Photo or song identifies birds instantly.
Go early morning. Birds most active first hours after sunrise. Everything's singing, feeding.
Check other bird guides for comparison and learning different species.
Join local bird walks. Alabama Audubon runs them. Great learning from experienced people.
Final Thoughts
Alabama's red birds are honestly amazing. From Cardinals brightening every yard to Summer Tanagers in forests - we've got beautiful variety.
Don't need expertise. Just start paying attention. Put up feeder, plant some natives, provide water. Birds will come.
Knew basically nothing six years ago. Now I ID dozens of species by sight or sound. Gets genuinely addictive once you start noticing.
Get outside. Look up. Alabama's red birds are everywhere waiting.
Need help identifying or documenting birds in your area? Visit Savemite.com for professional bird naming and species identification services. Whether backyard observations or field research - expert assistance available.