ʻApapane
Scientific Name: Himatione sanguinea
The ‘Apapane is a red songbird native to Hawaii. It is a well-known bird for its important role in the pollination of native Hawaiian plants. These birds inhabit the native forests of the Hawaiian Islands, where they feed primarily on nectar. They use their brush-tipped tongues to extract nectar from flowers, particularly those of the ‘ōhi’a lehua tree (Metrosideros polymorpha).
While the populations of native Hawaiian forest birds on the islands of Hawaii seem to be stable, they are vulnerable to the same threats that endanger other native Hawaiian forest birds. These threats include the loss and deterioration of their habitats, predation by non-native mammals, and diseases.
‘Ohi’a lehua
A species of flowering evergreen tree in the myrtle family that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The tree is used for construction of houses, but their flower also provides nectar for honeybees and many native birds.
Hawaiian Honeycreeper
Scientific Name: Drepanis coccinea
The Hawaiian honeycreeper, also known as the ‘I’iwi or scarlet honeycreeper, is another native bird of Hawaii. It is recognized by its scarlet plumage and long, curved bill adapted for nectar feeding simiilar to the ‘Apapane. These birds primarily inhabit native Hawaiian forests, where they also play a crucial role in the pollination of native plant species.
The ‘I’iwi is considered a symbol of the Hawaiian gods and is featured in various Hawaiian legends and special ceremonies, highlighting the deep connection between the bird and the indigenous culture of the Hawaiian Islands.
Hepatic Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga flava
The hepatic tanager is one of the four tanagers found in North America. The males exhibit a hepatic or liver-red plumage, while females are more yellowish-orange. These birds inhabit a variety of forested habitats, from pine-oak woodlands to tropical forests, where they feed on a diet of fruits and insects like caterpillars and beetles.
This red bird has a range of songs and calls used for communication, with regional dialects observed in different populations. This diversity in vocalization demonstrates the complexity of avian communication.
House Finch
Scientific Name: Haemorhous mexicanus
The house finch is a small songbird that has adapted well to urban and suburban environments, often seen perched on buildings or foraging in gardens. Males exhibit a range of plumage colors, from bright red to orange or yellow, while females are generally brown and streaked. These birds primarily feed on seeds, fruits, and insects.
The house finch was introduced in the eastern United States. It was originally native to the western U.S. and Mexico, but the house finch was illegally sold as a caged bird in New York in the 1940s. To avoid prosecution, vendors released the birds, which have since established thriving populations across the eastern U.S.
Northern Cardinal
Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis
The northern cardinal is a vibrant red bird native to North America. It is easily recognizable by its red plumage and black face mask, while the female sports a more subdued tan color with red accents. Cardinals are known for their melodic songs and are often associated with winter holiday imagery.
Northern cardinals do not migrate and are year-round residents of their range, which includes the eastern United States and parts of Mexico and Central America.
Northern Red Bishop
Scientific Name: Euplectes franciscanus
The northern red bishop is a small passerine bird native to Africa. The males have plumage consisting of vibrant red and black coloration, designed to attract females during the breeding season. These birds inhabit grasslands and wetlands, where they feed on seeds and insects.
Northern red bishop has a complex social structure. During the breeding season, males establish territories and construct intricate woven nests to attract females. The females then choose a mate based on the quality of the nest and the male’s plumage.
Painted Redstart
Scientific Name: Myioborus pictus
The painted redstart is a small songbird native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. Characterized by its black plumage contrasted with red on its belly and patches of white on its wings, the painted redstart is often seen flitting about in search of insects.
These birds inhabit pine-oak and mixed forests, where they play a crucial role in controlling insect populations. Painted redstart often spreads its wings and tail to startle insects, making them easier to catch.
Pine Grosbeak
Scientific Name: Pinicola enucleator
The pine grosbeak is a large member of the finch family that can measure up to 10 inches (25.5 cm). These red birds exhibit sexual dimorphism with males showcasing a vibrant red plumage, while females display a more olive-yellow coloration. These birds inhabit coniferous forests in the northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, where they primarily feed on seeds, buds, and fruits, such as rowans.
Pine grosbeak is known for its gentle demeanor. They are known to be quite tame around humans, often allowing close approach. This characteristic, combined with its melodic song, makes the pine grosbeak a delightful bird to encounter in its natural habitat.
Pyrrhuloxia
Scientific Name: Cardinalis sinuatus
The pyrrhuloxia is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, closely related to the Northern Cardinal. The male pyrrhuloxia has a gray body with red accents on the crest, wings, mask, and tail, while the female is more subdued in color. These birds inhabit arid scrublands and desert areas, where they feed on seeds and insects.
Red Avadavat
Scientific Name: Amandava amandava
The red avadavat, also known as the strawberry finch, is a small bird native to tropical Asia. The males are known for their bright red plumage and white spots on the body and wings, while the females are a more brown color.
Red avadavats are popular cage birds known for their lively personalities. However, this has led to a decline in their wild populations due to trapping for the pet trade.
Red Crossbill
Scientific Name: Loxia curvirostra
The red crossbills have crossed mandibles, which are adapted to extract seeds from conifer cones, a primary component of its diet. Males have reddish-orange plumage, while females are generally yellow or greenish-yellow. These birds inhabit coniferous forests across North America and Eurasia.
Red crossbill has a nomadic behavior Its populations are known to move around in search of abundant cone crops, and their breeding season is not fixed, but rather is dependent on the availability of food resources.
Rosefinch
Scientific Name: Carpodacus spp.
The Rosefinch is a group of small songbirds with nearly 28 species found in Europe and Asia, known for their reddish-pink plumage in males. These birds inhabit a variety of habitats, from forests and shrublands to alpine meadows, where they feed on seeds and insects. Rosefinch is known for its melodic songs, which are used by males to attract mates and establish territory.
Scarlet Ibis
Scientific Name: Eudocimus ruber
The scarlet ibis is a striking wading bird found in South America and the Caribbean. Its red plumage is derived from the carotenoid pigments in its diet of crustaceans and other invertebrates. These birds inhabit mangroves, mudflats, and wetlands, where they use their long, curved beaks to probe for food in the mud.
The scarlet ibis is the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago and is featured in the country’s coat of arms, symbolizing the islands’ rich biodiversity and vibrant culture.
Did you know?
A juvenile scarlet ibis can be brown, white, or grey. Their red color comes from their diet.
Summer Tanager
Scientific Name: Piranga rubra
The summer tanager is another member of the tanager family, found in North and Central America. The males are entirely red, while the females are a yellowish color. These birds are known for their insectivorous diet, with a particular fondness for bees and wasps.
They have a unique method of dealing with these stinging insects. They catch and rub them on a branch to remove the stinger before consuming them.
Vermilion Flycatcher
Scientific Name: Pyrocephalus obscurus
The vermilion flycatcher is a small bird native to the Americas. These birds are often seen perched on branches or wires, where they launch into the air to catch insects in flight. The vermilion flycatcher is known for its energetic display flights, where the male shows off its bright plumage to attract a mate.
The vermilion flycatcher is seldom kept in captivity in aviculture, as the males are prone to losing their brilliant vermilion hue when confined.
White-winged Crossbill
Scientific Name: Loxia leucoptera
Like its cousin species the red crossbill, the white-winged crossbill has crossed mandibles, which are specially adapted for extracting seeds from conifer cones. These birds inhabit boreal forests across North America and Eurasia.
The white-winged crossbill is its nomadic lifestyle. Their populations move extensively in search of conifer cone crops, especially for larch – a type of deciduous conifer. Their nests are also built by mainly using conifer twigs.
You May Also Like
Habermehl G. 2012. Venomous Animals and Their Toxins. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN: 3642886051.
Anoka IA, Robb EL, Baker MB. Brown Recluse Spider Toxicity. [Updated 2022 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537045/
Offerman, S. R., Daubert, G. P., & Clark, R. F. (2011). The treatment of black widow spider envenomation with antivenin latrodectus mactans: a case series. The Permanente journal, 15(3), 76–81. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/10-136
Binstead JT, Nappe TM. Funnel Web Spider Toxicity. [Updated 2023 Jan 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535394/
Lopes, P. H., Fukushima, C. S., Shoji, R., Bertani, R., & Tambourgi, D. V. (2021). Sphingomyelinase D Activity in Sicarius tropicus Venom: Toxic Potential and Clues to the Evolution of SMases D in the Sicariidae Family. Toxins, 13(4), 256. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13040256
Shahi, M., Hosseini, A., Shemshad, K., & Rafinejad, J. (2011). The Occurrence of Red-Back Spider Latrodectus hasselti (Araneae: Theridiidae) in Bandar Abbas, Southern Part of Iran. Iranian journal of arthropod-borne diseases, 5(1), 63–68.
James E. Carrel and Mark Deyrup “Red Widow Spiders (Araneae: Theridiidae) Prey Extensively on Scarab Beetles Endemic in Florida Scrub,” Florida Entomologist 97(1), 130-137, (1 March 2014). https://doi.org/10.1653/024.097.0155