Audubon Supports New Bill to Designate Scarlet Tanager as Pennsylvania’s Official Migratory Bird

HARRISBURG, PA — A new bill introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly would designate the Scarlet Tanager as the state’s official migratory bird, highlighting its beauty and Pennsylvania’s vital role in its survival. 

The Scarlet Tanager is a vividly colored migratory songbird that relies on Pennsylvania’s mature hardwood forests, where about 13 percent of the species’ global population breeds – more than in any other state. Audubon is proud to support House Bill 2316 to highlight this important bird and its special connection to Pennsylvania. 

“Scarlet Tanagers are beautiful, remarkable birds that also highlight so much of what makes Pennsylvania special,” said bill sponsor Rep. Mandy Steele. “Healthy forests that this bird depends on play vital roles in the state’s outdoor recreation economy and forestry industries. Highlighting this species is a chance to celebrate our natural heritage while inspiring the next generation to protect it.” 

“Pennsylvania plays an outsized role in the survival of the Scarlet Tanager, thanks to our extensive hardwood forests,” said Jim Brown, Policy Director at Audubon Mid-Atlantic. “Designating this species as our state migratory bird highlights how critical it is to care for those forests in ways that benefit birds, people, the local hardwood economies, and the long-term strength of our natural resources.” 

Each spring, Scarlet Tanagers return from tropical forests in South America to breed throughout Pennsylvania, from mountaintops in the Pennsylvania Wilds to neighborhood parks between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Though common, they are often elusive, spending much of their time high in the leafy canopy. Males are crimson red with jet black wings, while females are yellowish green. 

The species is a key indicator of forest health. Where Scarlett Tanagers thrive, forests are resilient; where they decline, it can signal fragmentation and ecological stress that also affects people. 

Pennsylvania’s forests face threats from invasive species, pests, and poor management, but sustainable forestry practices can protect birds and people alike, supporting clean water, wildlife habitat, and the hardwood economy. Supporting species like the Scarlet Tanager also highlights the forest’s role in recreation and local economies.  

Through initiatives like Audubon’s Forester Training and Endorsement program, land managers across Pennsylvania are putting these practices into action. To-date, more than 10,000 acres of privately owned forest have become healthier - with more diverse tree species and a wider span of tree ages, helping improve bird habitat on more than 7,000 acres of privately owned forest. 

Contact:  
Ben Graham, Senior Communications Manager -  ben.graham@audubon.org 

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Audubon Mid-Atlantic is a regional office of the National Audubon Society, envisioning a Mid-Atlantic region of healthy and resilient ecosystems where birds thrive and where all people have access to nature and a voice in environmental stewardship. Working alongside a diverse flock of supporters and partners, Audubon Mid-Atlantic strives to slow down and reverse the impact that climate change and habitat loss have had on the wide range of bird species that depend on the Mid-Atlantic region.