Life and Wildlife along the Little Buffalo River

• Medium-sized songbird.
• Male entirely red; female dull yellow.

Male Description

Entirely bright red. Wings slightly darker or more gray, especially in winter (Basic Plumage).

Female Description

Upperparts plain yellowish olive green. Brighter yellow on crown and rump. Underparts dull yellow, with olive green wash on sides. Wing feathers grayish brown with yellow edging. Some females have red feathers. The red may be as a wash on body feathers, splotches of red feathers, or, rarely, the bird may be entirely red.

Immature Description

Immature resembles adult female. First spring male with variable amount of red and yellow feathers; may have only a few red feathers on head, or may be entirely red except for the wing feathers.