Georgia · Summer breeder

Scarlet Tanagers in Georgia

When scarlet tanagers are present in Georgia, when they nest, which native Georgia plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 7a–9a yard.

Cardinals and allies (Cardinalidae)Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea

Status in Georgia: Summer breeder
Nesting window: April–July
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 7a–9a
Range note: Breeds in the mountains; migrant elsewhere.

When to expect scarlet tanagers in Georgia

Scarlet Tanagers are summer residents in Georgia, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Breeds in the mountains; migrant elsewhere.

Humid subtropical, with cooler mountains in the north and a warm coastal plain in the south.

Nesting in Georgia

Across Georgia, scarlet tanagers typically nest from April–July. Plan around that window: March for setup, July for clean-out.

Hot, humid summers; bluebirds can raise three broods but boxes in full sun overheat.

Scarlet Tanagers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, eastern red cedar, american beautyberry for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Georgia plants that attract scarlet tanagers

Of the regional native plants we track for Georgia, these 8 provide food or cover scarlet tanagers use:

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

High-fat fall fruit critical before migration and winter.

Eastern red cedar

Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Winter berry-cones and dense roosting cover.

American beautyberry

Callicarpa americana · Shrub

Fall fruit.

Coral honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens · Vine

Nectar through spring and summer.

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries.

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Supports hundreds of caterpillar species used to feed nestlings.

Winterberry

Ilex verticillata · Shrub

Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.

Staghorn sumac

Rhus typhina · Shrub

Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.

Feeding scarlet tanagers through the Georgia year

Top foods: Oranges and grape jelly (rarely, during migration).
In Georgia's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for scarlet tanagers · Best feeder for scarlet tanagers

Frequently asked

Are scarlet tanagers in Georgia year-round?

No. Scarlet Tanagers are summer breeders in Georgia and leave for the winter. Breeds in the mountains; migrant elsewhere.

When do scarlet tanagers nest in Georgia?

Nesting in Georgia typically runs April–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.

What native plants attract scarlet tanagers in Georgia?

Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, American beautyberry, Coral honeysuckle, Serviceberry, White oak, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac are native plants in Georgia that provide food or cover for scarlet tanagers.

Other backyard birds in Georgia

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Carolina Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Orchard Oriole Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Painted Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird House Sparrow European Starling Rufous Hummingbird White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Eastern Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Red Crossbill Field Sparrow Gray Catbird Lark Sparrow Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo White-eyed Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Black Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Red-cockaded Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Horned Lark Blue Grosbeak White-winged Crossbill Brown-headed Nuthatch Yellow-billed Cuckoo Brewer's Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Boat-tailed Grackle Rock Pigeon

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.