In summer a Scarlet Tanager male has no place to hide where his radiant reds won't make him stand out among the greens of summer. Perhaps that is why they often stay high in the forest canopy and rarely sing.

Once in Shenandoah National Park on a spring hike I was followed by a Scarlet Tanager for some distance along the trail. I never would have known it for he never sang, except I noticed a shadow bouncing along on the trail beside me and looked up to see his scarlet coat brightening the bare tree tops.

I followed this fellow at Magee Marsh, as he patrolled the woodland edge hunting insects. Compared to the warblers, the tanagers are slow and methodical - a welcome change of pace for this photographer.

Location: Magee Marsh State Park, Ohio