Ohio proudly services as the home and/or breeding ground for a wide array of bird species, many of them featuring eye-catching red feathers. Even the state bird of Ohio is a red bird, the northern cardinal. Despite sharing a similar color, the red birds in Ohio can vary greatly in regards to appearance, habitat, and even diet, and all of this information can help you better identify these birds.
11 Red Birds in Ohio
Here are 11 red birds you can find in the state of Ohio: northern cardinal, red-bellied woodpecker, summer tanager, pine grosbeak, house finch, red crossbill, scarlet tanager, red-headed woodpecker, common redpoll, purple finch and the white-winged crossbill.
1. Northern Cardinal
Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis
Cardinals are the state bird of Ohio. Males are well-known for their stunning red feathers, which are striking on their own, but look even more impressive against a snowy background. It is only the males of the species, however, that have these bright red feathers. The females are more subdued with tawny brown feathers. Both sexes have a tall head crest.
Unlike some of the other red birds in Ohio, the Northern cardinal does not migrate during colder months and can be found in the state throughout the year. They love to come to backyard feeders and their favorite seed is black-oil sunflower.
2. Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Scientific Name: Melanerpes carolinus
The red-bellied woodpecker is a common bird in Ohio that is often found in forests or other areas with plenty of trees. They are no stranger to bird feeders, and will gladly stop by for suet, sunflower, peanuts and nuts. While not an entirely red bird, their head has such bright red feathers we thought they deserved a place on this list.
The female and male of the species have a similar appearance. They both have a black and white barred pattern on their wings and red along the top of the head and nape of the neck. For males, the red goes all the way down to the beak, while in females the red stops at their forehead.