As we move closer to the summer season, our May feature in our 12 Months of Birding series is one to listen and look for at the Inn on Mill Creek B&B, the aptly-named Summer Tanager.
This brightly-colored songbird is a summertime resident of Pisgah National Forest and we hear them starting in late May. Oftentimes, they are high up towards the tops of trees. The place we see them the most is in the woods along our road just off the southern end of the property, where feeder streams run through.
Interesting facts about the Summer Tanager:
- It’s the only bird in North America that’s completely red. (The adult males are red, while females and immature males are yellow.)
- They love to snack on bees and wasps, catching them while in flight.
- After spending their summers with us in Pisgah National Forest, they head to their winter homes, located in areas from the southern part of Mexico to the northern parts of South America.
Learn more about the Summer Tanager at allaboutbirds.org/guide/Summer_Tanager/overview.