Wyoming is home to a whole plethora of unique birds, coming in at a multitude of different colors and sizes. In this article I’ll be going over 9 unique red birds that consider the state home, so continue reading to learn a  bit more about them.

• House Finch 
• Western Tanager 
• Red Headed Woodpecker 
• White Winged Crossbill 
• Pine Grosbeak 
• Rose Breasted Grosbeak 
• Common Redpoll 
• Northern Flicker 
• Cassin’s Finch 

9 Red Birds In Wyoming

1. House Finch (Haemorhous Mexicanus)

• Size: 12.5 – 15cm
• Weight: 19 – 22 grams
• Wingspan: 20 – 25cm

House finches can be found in eastern and southwest Wyoming on a year round basis.

A House finch can be recognised by its red and brown plumage with their body mostly light brown and the head made up of a gradient red color with hints of brown. Females on the other hand are mostly brown with hints of black on their wings and back.

As for where you can find house finches, the number of habitats they stay within are quite vast ranging from dry desert, desert grassland, chaparral, oak savannah, streamsides, and open coniferous forests at elevations below 6,000 feet. 

If the food is to their liking, like black sunflower seeds, these little birds will on occasion make their way to a feeder set out by a citizen. Other than seeds house finches also eat small insects like aphids as well as fruits and berries.

In the wild, house finches are known to live for around 10 years whilst captive finches can live upwards of 12 years.

2. Western Tanager (Piranga Ludoviciana)

• Size: 16 – 19cm
• Weight: 24 – 36 grams
• Wingspan: 27 – 31cm

You’ll be able to spot western tanagers in Wyoming when breeding. They will mostly be there in the spring and summer months. 

Western Tanagers are recognised by their red head, yellow body and their gray wings with yellowish/white stripes. The females are yellow too although it’s color is more dirty yellow with gray/black wings.

Western tanagers can be found within Open conifer or mixed forests.

Within these environments they will consume a variety of food sources like smaller fruits and berries like mulberries and elderberries as well as insects like wasps, bees, ants, beetles, grasshoppers, termites, cicada among other smaller insects.

Western tanagers tend to live upto 7 – 8 years in the wild.

3. Red Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes Erythrocephalus)

• Size: 19 – 25cm
• Weight: 56 – 97 grams
• Wingspan: 40 – 45cm

These red headed woodpeckers can be found in most of Wyoming besides the western part of the state when they happen to breed in the summer and spring months.

Red headed woodpeckers are recognised by their red head and their black and white body and wings.

These woodpeckers tend to spend the majority of their time in groves, farm country, orchards, shade trees in towns, large scattered trees where you can find them in forest edges, orchards, open pine woods and the groves of taller trees.

A red headed woodpeckers diet consists of a wide variety of insects which includes spiders, earthworms, different types of nuts, seeds, berries along with other fruits. Sometimes these peckers may even eat small rodents or the contents of another birds eggs.

As for their lifespan, red headed woodpeckers have been known to live up to 10 years in the wild.

4. White Winged Crossbill (Loxia Leucoptera)

• Size: 15 – 17cm
• Weight: 24 – 30 grams
• Wingspan: 26 – 28cm

White winged crossbills are mostly non breeding residents within Wyoming so, you’ll find them in the state throughout fall and winter.

These white winged crossbill (also called two barred crossbills) are recognised by their red plumage across the head and body, black wings with white stripes and their downward pointing bill that crosses over itself. On the other hand females are mostly gray and green in color.

These crossbills can be found living in montane coniferous forests among boreal trees with mature spruce and larch. As for what the two barred crossbill eat, it includes pine cones, grass, docks, thrift seeds as well as smaller insects like caterpillars, aphids, spiders etc.

White winged crossbills are also known to live for around 4 years in the wild although the numbers may differ for captive ones.

5. Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola Enucleator)

• Size: 20 – 25.5cm
• Weight: 52 – 58 grams
• Wingspan: 31 – 35cm

You’ll be able to find pine grosbeaks in the western and the southern border of Wyoming year round whereas they will remain in the rest of the state in the non-breeding fall and winter months.

Pine grosbeaks are recognised by their greyish white wings and tail feathers, a redish pink body and head along with a black beak and feet. Female grosbeaks are not nearly as vibrant as the males with their plumage a generally light gray color with hints of orange around the torso and tail.

Pine grosbeaks spend the majority of their time within coniferous woods where the may straddle on a horizontal branch when resting and hunt for small insects, seeds, buds, berries among other refreshing fruits when on the move.

These birds are known to live up till 9 years old, sometimes even more so they have a moderately long lifespans for birds of their size.

6. Rose Breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus Ludovicianus)

• Size: 18 – 22cm
• Weight: 35 – 65 grams
• Wingspan: 29 – 33cm

You’ll typically find rose breasted grosbeaks making their migratory passage through most of central and eastern Wyoming.

Rose breasted grosbeaks are recognised by their black, white and red plumage where their back is black, their wings and wing tail feathers a mixture of black and white with their breast white, with a triangular red shape closer to the neck. Females on the other hand are mostly brown and white.

As for where you can find these grosbeaks, it will often be around deciduous forest, woodlands, parks and gardens.

Rose breasted grosbeaks are known to consume a variety of different food sources such as seeds like sunflower seeds or safflower, small insects as well as berries and other smaller fruits.

These rose breasted grosbeaks are known to live for around 7 years in the wild and significantly longer in captivity, extending to about 24 years there.

7. Common Redpoll (Acanthis)

• Size: 12 – 14cm
• Weight: 11 – 20 grams
• Wingspan: 19 – 22cm

Common redpolls can be found all across Wyoming in their non-breeding winter months.

These common redpolls are recognised by their red, white and brown plumage with their forehead and breast mixed with red and white, with the wings a combination of a brown and white color. Females also have a little spot on their forehead but, the remainder of their body is a brown and white color.

You’ll find a common redpoll located around boreal forests of pines, spruces and larches.

As for what these birds eat, it includes seeds from birch, alder and spruce along with a bunch of small insects like caterpillars, beetles, flies etc.

The longest lifespan that was recorded for a redpoll happened to be around 7 years and 10 months but, the majority of redpolls will live a good bit shorter, between the 4 – 5 year range.

8. Northern Flicker (Colaptes Auratus)

• Size: 30 – 35cm
• Weight: 115 – 125 grams
• Wingspan: 50 – 55cm

You’ll be able to spot northern flickers all across Wyoming on a year round basis.

Northern flickers are recognised by their mostly cream colored body with black spots, orange and black tail feathers and elements of red on the lower part of their face. Females look very similar to the males minus the red elements on their face.

You’ll often find northern flickers around woodlands, forest edges, and open fields with scattered trees, as well as city parks and suburbs. 

As for what they tend to eat, it includes mostly insects along with smaller fruits and berries.

Northern flickers are known to live for around 5 – 7 years on average with the longest recorded to be 9 years and 2 months.

9. Cassin’s Finch (Haemorhous Cassinii)

• Size – 15 – 17cm
• Weight – 24 – 34 grams
• Wingspan – 25 – 27cm

Cassin’s finches can be found in central and western Wyoming on a year round basis.

Cassin’s finches are a mixture of brown and redish pink with elements of pink mostly around their neck, wings and chest. The remainder of the body is white. Females on the other hand have a light brown color scheme and no elements of pink on their head.

As for where you can find a cassin’s finch, they will often be around evergreen forests in the mountains up to about 10,000 feet elevation whilst in winter you’ll find them in elevations that are far lower. 

Cassin’s finches tend to eat seeds, buds and berries whilst the occasional insect is also eaten by these finches. Nevertheless, in most cases cassin’s finches tend to eat seeds.

These finches are known to live for around 7 years in the wild with captive ones likely able to live a few years longer.