There are a variety of birds that have red heads. The most well-known bird with a red head is the northern cardinal. Other birds with red heads include the scarlet tanager, summer tanager, and vermilion flycatcher.
The color of a bird’s head can be an important identifying factor, as some birds may look very similar to one another otherwise. In addition to their distinctive coloring, many red-headed birds are also known for their beautiful singing voices.
There are many birds with red heads, including the cardinal, goldfinch, and house finch. The red-headed woodpecker is one of the most easily recognizable birds with a red head. Other less well-known birds with red heads include the black-headed grosbeak, Scarlet tanager, and Red Crossbill.
While some bird species only have males with red heads (like the cardinal), others have both male and female members sporting this bright plumage (such as the goldfinch).
The reason for these different colors in bird heads is usually related to mating. The brighter the colors on a male bird, the more likely he is to attract a mate.
In some cases, like with the scarlet tanager, it’s thought that the bright coloration may also help ward off predators or signal to other birds that this individual is healthy and strong. No matter what the reason behind it is, there’s no doubt that seeing a flash of red in a sea of green leaves is always a welcome sight!
25+ Birds with Red Head
What Type of Bird Has a Red Head?
The most well-known bird with a red head is the northern cardinal. Cardinals are found in wooded areas throughout North and South America and are one of the most popular backyard birds. Other birds with red heads include the red-headed woodpecker, scarlet tanager, and summer tanager.
While not as common, there are also several species of ducks with red heads including the ruddy duck and the lesser scaup.
What Looks Like a Sparrow But Has a Red Head?
There are a few different types of birds that could be confused with a sparrow but have a red head. The most common in North America is the Northern Cardinal. Cardinals are slightly larger than sparrows with a longer tail and bill.
Both male and female cardinals have a red head, while the rest of their body is mostly gray.
Another bird that is sometimes mistaken for a sparrow is the Red-winged Blackbird. These birds are actually quite a bit larger than sparrows, and they have black feathers covering most of their body.
The males have a small patch of red feathers on their wings, which is where they get their name. Females usually have duller brown feathers. Both sexes have yellow eyes and black bills.
Finally, there is the Pyrrhuloxia, which is also known as the desert cardinal. This bird looks very similar to the Northern Cardinal, but it has grayish-brown feathers instead of red ones. The desert cardinal also has a crest on its head that often stands up straight, while cardinals usually only have this crest when they are excited or angry.
So if you see a small bird with a red head, it is most likely one of these three species!
What Birds Have a Red Face?
The Red-faced Honeycreeper is a small bird with a very conspicuous red face. It is found in humid highland forests in Central and South America. The rest of its plumage is mostly black, with some white on the underparts and wings.
Both sexes are similar in appearance.
This striking little bird is most often seen flitting about in the canopy of tall forest trees, where it gleans insects from leaves and twigs. The diet also includes fruits, berries and nectar.
The Red-faced Honeycreeper often hangs upside down while feeding, like a tiny acrobat!
The nest is built by both sexes and is an open cup made from plant fibre, bark strips, mosses and cobwebs, lined with soft materials such as hair or feathers. It’s usually placed in a tree fork or epiphyte (a plant that grows on another plant).
Two to three glossy white eggs are laid per clutch. Incubation takes around two weeks and is carried out by the female only.
The young birds leave the nest after around three weeks but they are not yet independent; they will continue to be fed by their parents for several more weeks until they learn to fend for themselves.
What Large Birds Have Red Heads?
One of the most iconic and well-known large birds with a red head is the American Bald Eagle. These beautiful birds of prey are not only stunning to look at, but are also incredibly powerful flyers, able to reach speeds of up to 150 miles per hour! Other large birds with red heads include the Red-headed Woodpecker, Scarlet Macaw and Northern Cardinal.
All of these species are easily recognizable thanks to their striking plumage, and make for popular bird watching subjects.
Conclusion
The bird world is full of beautiful colors, and one of the most striking is red. While some birds are mostly red, others have just a touch of this vibrant hue on their head or breast. Here are a few of the most stunning red-headed birds you’re likely to see.
1. Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)
2. Red-and-green Macaw (Ara chloropterus)
3. Military Macaw (Ara militaris)
4. Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus)
5. Red-belliedmacaw (Orthopsittaca manilata)
6. Crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans)
7. Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
8 .Painted bunting(Passerina ciris)
Birds with red heads come in all shapes and sizes, from the massive macaws to the tiny crimson rosella. Whether they’re parrots or passerines, these eight species are sure to stand out in a crowd!
