Scarlet Tanager in April
Where scarlet tanagers are in April, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
April in the Scarlet Tanager's year
April is when spring migration hits its stride. Waves of migrants move north on warm southerly winds, wintering birds leave for good, and early nesters are already on eggs in the South. Every week brings species that weren't there the week before.
For the Scarlet Tanager specifically, April is a spring month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 37 states and provinces where scarlet tanagers occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where scarlet tanagers are in April
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- mostly absent (migration only)
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In April, scarlet tanagers are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in April
Scarlet tanagers are not nesting in April. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes, starting roughly a month earlier in the South.
Outside the nesting season, scarlet tanagers put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in April
- Caterpillars, beetles, wasps and moths
A treetop bird that drops to birdbaths and jelly feeders during spring migration, especially after storms.
Migrants arriving after long flights are hungry — feeders can be genuine lifelines during cold, wet spells that suppress insects.
Full Scarlet Tanager diet guide → · Best feeder for scarlet tanagers →
Watching scarlet tanagers this month
Scarlet tanagers are settled and predictable in April, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region scarlet tanagers are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Scarlet Tanager month by month
Scarlet Tanager by state
Frequently asked
Where are scarlet tanagers in April?
In April, scarlet tanagers are absent in the South, mostly absent (migration only) across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do scarlet tanagers nest in April?
No — scarlet tanagers typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do scarlet tanagers eat in April?
Caterpillars, beetles, wasps and moths.
Sources
- Scarlet Tanager — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Scarlet Tanager life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Scarlet Tanager — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.