Have you ever spotted a small birds with red heads and wondered what species it was? Birds with redheads are some of the most striking in the avian world.
Spotting a small bird with red heads is always a treat. Their bright colors and unique features make them stand out. Some are native to North America while others thrive in Australia or tropical regions.
Here we’ll explore ten beautiful small birds with red heads. You’ll learn about their habitats, behaviors and characteristics. This article will help you identify these stunning birds.
Key Takeaways:
- Red-headed birds are diverse and striking: found in forests, deserts, and gardens.
- Red feathers help with mating, territory defense, and camouflage.
- Popular species include the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Scarlet Tanager, and Northern Cardinal.
- Diet influences red coloration: with carotenoid-rich foods enhancing brightness.
- Some birds use red to show dominance: like the Red-Headed Woodpecker and Vermilion Flycatcher.
- Red can act as camouflage: helping birds like the Crimson Sunbird blend into flowers.
- Mythical red birds include the Phoenix, Thunderbird, and Garuda.
- Birdwatchers can easily spot red-headed birds: due to their bright plumage and songs.
15 Species of Small Birds with Red Heads!
Many red-headed birds use their coloring for mating displays, territory defense, or camouflage in flowering environments. Some are common backyard birds; while others prefer forests, deserts, or tropical areas.
1. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird:
- Scientific Name:Archilochus colubris
- Size: 3.5 inches
- Wingspan: 4.3 inches
- Habitat: Eastern and Central North America
- Diet: Nectar, small insects
- Behavior: Hovers mid-air, rapid wingbeats
The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in Eastern North America. Males have a brilliant red throat, which appears black in certain lighting. These tiny birds are known for their agility in flight, hovering mid-air as they feed on nectar.
They are long-distance migrators, traveling over 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico to reach their wintering grounds. Their diet consists mostly of flower nectar but they also eat small insects and spiders for protein.
2. Scarlet Tanager
- Scientific Name:Piranga olivacea
- Size: 7 inches
- Wingspan: 11 inches
- Habitat: Deciduous forests of North America
- Diet: Insects, berries
- Behavior: Stays high in trees, sings a raspy song
The Scarlet Tanager is a striking songbird known for its bright red body and black wings. Males are vividly colored, while females are olive-yellow. These birds prefer to stay hidden in forest canopies, making them difficult to spot.
They are insectivores, feeding on caterpillars, beetles, and other insects during the summer. As seasons change, they incorporate berries and fruits into their diet. Their raspy song resembles that of a robin but with a distinctive rough quality.
Read More About: Male vs Female Cardinals – 5 Key Differences Explained!
3. Crimson Rosella:
- Scientific Name:Platycercus elegans
- Size: 14 inches
- Wingspan: 17 inches
- Habitat: Forests and gardens of Australia
- Diet: Seeds, fruits, nectar
- Behavior: Social and active, often in pairs
The Crimson Rosella is a stunning Australian parrot with a red body, blue wings, and black markings. These birds are highly social and intelligent, often found in flocks or pairs.
Crimson Rosellas thrive in woodlands, rainforests, and urban parks, where they forage for seeds, fruits, and nectar. They are also popular as pets, known for their ability to mimic human speech.
4. Vermilion Flycatcher:
- Scientific Name:Pyrocephalus rubinus
- Size: 5 inches
- Wingspan: 9 inches
- Habitat: Open woodlands and fields
- Diet: Insects
- Behavior: Perches on branches, catches insects mid-air
The Vermilion Flycatcher is a small, bright red bird that perches on fences and low branches. Males are bright red with dark wings, while females are brownish-gray with faint red markings.
These birds are agile hunters, catching insects in mid-air using quick reflexes. They are often seen darting from branch to branch.
5. Pyrrhuloxia:
- Scientific Name:Cardinalis sinuatus
- Size: 8 inches
- Wingspan: 11 inches
- Habitat: Deserts of the Southwestern US and Mexico
- Diet: Seeds, insects
- Behavior: Thrives in arid conditions
The Pyrrhuloxia, also known as the Desert Cardinal, is a close relative of the Northern Cardinal. Unlike its bright red cousin, it has a grayish body with a red face, chest, and crest.
These birds are well adapted to dry environments, surviving on seeds and insects. Their strong, curved beaks help them crack open hard seeds in arid regions.
6. Flame-colored Tanager:
- Scientific Name:Piranga bidentata
- Size: 7 inches
- Wingspan: 11 inches
- Habitat: Mountain forests in Mexico and Central America
- Diet: Fruits, insects
- Behavior: Prefers high-altitude forests
The Flame-colored Tanager is one of the most vibrantly colored red birds. Males have a deep orange-red body, while females are yellowish-green.
These birds thrive in mountainous forests, foraging for fruit and insects. Their melodious song makes them a favorite among birdwatchers.
7. House Finch:
- Scientific Name:Haemorhous mexicanus
- Size: 6 inches
- Wingspan: 10 inches
- Habitat: Urban areas, forests, and fields in North America
- Diet: Seeds, berries, insects
- Behavior: Social, often found in flocks
The House Finch is one of the most common red-headed backyard birds in North America. Males have a reddish forehead, throat, and chest, while females are brown and streaked. The intensity of the red coloration depends on their diet, particularly their intake of carotenoid-rich foods.
These birds are highly social, often seen in flocks at bird feeders or foraging in fields. They have a cheerful, warbling song that adds liveliness to gardens and parks. Their adaptability has allowed them to thrive in cities, suburbs, and rural areas alike.
8. Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Scientific Name:Melanerpes carolinus
- Size: 9 inches
- Wingspan: 13 inches
- Habitat: Woodlands of North America
- Diet: Insects, nuts, fruits
- Behavior: Drills into trees, agile climber
Despite its name, the Red-bellied Woodpecker has only a faint red patch on its belly, while its crown and nape are a bold red. These birds are often mistaken for the Red-headed Woodpecker, but their red coloring is restricted to the head rather than the entire face.
They use their strong beaks to drill into tree bark, searching for insects or storing food. Their loud, rhythmic drumming on tree trunks is often heard in forests and suburban areas. They also have a unique call that sounds like a rolling “churr”.
9. Northern Cardinal
- Scientific Name:Cardinalis cardinalis
- Size: 9 inches
- Wingspan: 12 inches
- Habitat: Gardens, forests, and cities in North America
- Diet: Seeds, fruits, insects
- Behavior: Territorial, sings year-round
The Northern Cardinal is one of the most recognizable red-headed birds in North America. Males are entirely red, while females have a brownish body with red tinges on the head and wings. Both males and females have a distinctive crest and a black mask around their beak.
Cardinals are known for their melodious, whistling songs, which can be heard year-round. They are highly territorial, especially during the breeding season, and will aggressively defend their nesting areas from other birds—even attacking their own reflections in windows!
10. Cassin’s Finch
- Scientific Name:Haemorhous cassinii
- Size: 6 inches
- Wingspan: 10 inches
- Habitat: Western North America, mountainous forests
- Diet: Seeds, buds, insects
- Behavior: Forms small flocks, forages in treetops
The Cassin’s Finch closely resembles the House Finch but has a brighter red cap and a more uniform pinkish-red wash over its body. Males have a deeper red coloration, while females and juveniles have a streaked brown appearance.
Read More About: Top 10 Mythical Birds and Creatures!
These birds are found at higher elevations in coniferous forests, where they forage on pine seeds, buds, and berries. They are often seen in small flocks, moving through treetops in search of food. Their song is a musical warbling.
11. Purple Finch
- Scientific Name:Haemorhous purpureus
- Size: 6 inches
- Wingspan: 10 inches
- Habitat: Forests and woodlands of North America
- Diet: Seeds, berries, insects
- Behavior: Social, visits bird feeders
The Purple Finch is often confused with the House Finch, but it has a deeper raspberry-red hue that extends from its head to its chest. Males have a rich, wine-colored plumage, while females have a streaked brown body with a distinctive white eyebrow.
These birds prefer wooded areas but frequently visit backyard feeders, especially in winter. Their diet consists mainly of seeds, berries, and insects, and they have a sweet, melodic song that makes them a joy to listen to.
12. Red-headed Finch
- Scientific Name:Amadina erythrocephala
- Size: 5 inches
- Wingspan: 7 inches
- Habitat: Dry grasslands and savannas of Africa
- Diet: Seeds, grains
- Behavior: Forms large flocks, ground forager
The Red-headed Finch is native to southern Africa and is well-adapted to arid environments. Males have a bright red head contrasting against a brownish-gray body, while females have a duller coloration.
Unlike many finches, these birds are ground foragers, searching for seeds and grains in open fields. They are highly social and often form large flocks outside of the breeding season.
13. Red-Headed Woodpecker
- Scientific Name:Melanerpes erythrocephalus
- Size: 9 inches
- Wingspan: 16 inches
- Habitat: Open woodlands, grasslands of North America
- Diet: Insects, acorns, nuts, fruits
- Behavior: Stores food, bold and aggressive
The Red-Headed Woodpecker is one of the most striking woodpecker species, with a completely red head, black wings, and a white belly. Unlike many other woodpeckers, it has a smooth, glossy appearance with minimal streaking.
These birds are known for storing food by hiding acorns, nuts, and even live insects in tree crevices. They are highly aggressive and will often defend their nesting sites from other birds.
14. Crimson Sunbird
- Scientific Name:Aethopyga siparaja
- Size: 4 inches
- Wingspan: 5 inches
- Habitat: Tropical forests of South Asia and Southeast Asia
- Diet: Nectar, insects
- Behavior: Hovers like a hummingbird, territorial
The Crimson Sunbird is a small, nectar-feeding bird found in tropical regions of Asia. Males have a vivid red head and body with a metallic blue-green tail, while females are olive-green with a yellowish belly.
These birds are often mistaken for hummingbirds due to their ability to hover mid-air while feeding on nectar. They are territorial and will aggressively defend their feeding grounds from intruders.
15. Scarlet Flycatcher
- Scientific Name:Pyrocephalus rubinus
- Size: 5 inches
- Wingspan: 8 inches
- Habitat: South America, open woodlands
- Diet: Insects
- Behavior: Perches on exposed branches, catches insects mid-flight
The Scarlet Flycatcher is a close relative of the Vermilion Flycatcher, found mainly in South America. Males have a deep scarlet-red body and black wings, while females are light brown with subtle red markings.
Why Do Some Birds Have Red Heads?
The vibrant red coloration seen in many bird species is not just for beauty. It plays an essential role in their survival and reproduction.
Mating Attraction – Bright Red Plumage Helps Males Attract Females!
In many bird species! males with bright red plumage are more successful at attracting mates. This is because red coloration often signals good health, strong genetics, and high reproductive potential. The Northern Cardinal is a great example—males are completely red, while females are a duller brown with slight red tinges.
The Scarlet Tanager also exhibits this trait. Males are deep red with black wings, while females are yellow-green. During mating season males sing loudly and display their red feathers to impress potential mates.
Territorial Signals – Red Feathers Can Show Dominance!
In the bird world! bright red feathers can act as a warning signal to rivals. Many birds use their red heads or chests to establish dominance in their territory.
The Red-Headed Woodpecker is a prime example. These birds are highly territorial and will aggressively defend their nesting sites from other birds. Their completely red heads make them look more threatening to intruders.
Red Feathers and Aggression
Red is a high-energy color in the animal kingdom. In many species, including birds, red is associated with aggression and dominance. Birds with more intense red plumage tend to have a higher social rank and are better at defending their territories.
Camouflage – Some Birds Blend into Red Flowers and Berries!
While red is often thought of as a bold, eye-catching color. It can also act as camouflage in certain environments. Birds that live in flowering regions or berry-rich areas may have evolved red feathers to help them blend into their surroundings.
FAQs:
What is the most mystical bird?
The Phoenix is the most mystical bird. It symbolizes immortality renewal and resurrection. It is reborn from its own ashes after being consumed by fire.
What is the legendary mythical bird?
Many cultures have legendary mythical birds. The Phoenix is a firebird that rises from its ashes in Greek Egyptian and Roman mythology. Garuda is a divine bird that serves as the mount of Vishnu in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The Thunderbird is a storm-controlling bird in Native American mythology. The Roc is a giant bird in Middle Eastern legends that is said to carry elephants.
Who is the Greek god of birds?
Zeus is the Greek god most associated with birds. His eagle Aetos Dios symbolizes strength and divine power. Hermes the messenger god is also linked to birds like the hawk and the rooster.
What is the mythical bird-human creature?
The Harpy is a mythical creature with the head of a woman and the wings and talons of a bird. It appears in Greek mythology as a messenger of the gods or a spirit of vengeance. The Siren is another bird-human hybrid. It has a woman’s head and a bird’s body and is known for luring sailors to their doom with its enchanting voice.
Conclusion:
Small birds with red heads are vibrant and fascinating. They bring color to forests, gardens and even desserts. The tiny Ruby-Throated Hummingbird and the bold Northern Cardinal stand out among them.
Birdwatchers find these birds exciting to observe. Their redheads make them easy to spot. Their unique behaviors add to their charm.
Have you seen a small bird with a red head? Share your experience in the comments!