Few things are as stunning as a brightly colored bird in flight. And while many birds boast vibrant plumage, few are as striking as those with an orange chest. These birds are often vibrant and full of life, adding a splash of color to any setting. That’s why it’s hard not to appreciate a bird with orange chest.
So keep your eyes peeled and your binoculars at the ready; you never know when one of these stunning creatures will make an appearance.
Let’s take a look at some of the most fascinating orange-chested birds in the US.
Here are 12 birds with orange chest that are sure to amaze and inspire you.
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12 Bird With Orange Chest
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Scarlet Tanager Songbird
The scarlet tanager is a small orange-chested bird with a big personality. This beautiful bird is easily recognizable by its bright orange chest and black wings. Throughout the eastern United States and Canada, scarlet tanagers live in wooded areas.
In the spring and summer, you can often see these birds perched at the top of trees or bushes, singing their distinctive song. While their plumage is striking year-round, scarlet tanagers are particularly vibrant in the springtime when they first return from their winter migration.
Take a moment to listen to its song if you’re lucky enough to see one!
Blackburnian Warbler
The Blackburnian warbler is a small songbird with orange chest and throat. This bird is found in North America, where it breeds in the coniferous forests of the northern United States and Canada.
The birds migrate to Central America and the Caribbean in the winter. Blackburnian warblers eat insects, which they catch by flying out from a perch and chasing them through the air.
Eurasian Bullfinch
The Eurasian bullfinch is a small finch with a black head, gray body, and white rump. The males have a pinkish-red chest, while the females have a gray chest with white streaks.
This orange breasted bird with black head is found in Europe and Asia, where they breed in open woodland and scrubland habitats. In winter, they migrate to southern Europe and Asia. Eurasian bullfinches eat seeds, which they crack open with their strong beaks.
Chaffinch
Chaffinches are enchanting birds found in the US. They have a sharp greyish top with an orange throat and chest. The chest is more of a burnt color than a vivid flame-like orange.
This shade gets even darker as the weather gets colder. In the winter, chaffinches usually travel with flocks of brambling birds. Moreover, Chaffinches are also known to build their nests in the same bushes and trees as brambling birds.
European Stonechat
The European stonechat is a small passerine orange bellied bird that was first described by Linnaeus in 1766. A stonechat bird gets its name from the sound of its call, which is reminiscent of two stones being struck together.
The male bird has black upper parts, with a white “bib” on the throat and an orange breast. The female bird is more brownish, with a paler bib and breast. Both sexes have a white rump and tail, with dark bars on the wings.
The European stonechat is an insectivorous bird, feeding on beetles, flies, and other small invertebrates. It will also eat some berries and seeds.
There are often pairs of stonechats seen perched close together on the tops of rocks or bush tops. However, stonechats are generally solitary birds.
American Robin
American robins are one of the most well-known and easily recognized birds in the United States. They are also one of the first birds to return in the spring, making them a sign of warmer weather to come.
These birds are a beautiful reddish-brown color, with an orange chest and belly. Typically, American robins eat insects, but they will also eat fruits and berries. In the winter, these birds are found in wooded areas across the United States.
Robin roosts can be huge during winter, sometimes housing a quarter-million birds. Males gather at roosts in summer, and females sleep at nests. Young robins also join the males once they become independent.
Barn Swallow
The barn swallow is a small bird with blue upper parts and a rusty-orange throat and belly. These birds are found in open habitats across the world, where they build their nests in barns, warehouses, and other structures. Barn swallows eat insects, which they catch on their wing.
In the winter, these birds migrate to Africa and South America. The barn swallow is an excellent example of avian adaptation, as these birds have evolved to take advantage of human-made structures.
The combination of their small size and streamlined bodies makes them well-suited for life on the wing, and their long, forked tails help them to change direction quickly as they chase after their prey.
Baltimore oriole
The Baltimore oriole is the state bird of Maryland.
The Baltimore oriole is a small bird with black upper parts and an orange breast. You can find it in open woodlands and gardens in the eastern United States. However, the bird migrates to Central and South America during the winter months.
Baltimore orioles are insectivorous, meaning that they primarily eat insects.
However, they can feed on berries and nectar sometimes.
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Despite being a small bird, the red-breasted nuthatch packs a powerful punch when it comes to charm. This sprightly little bird is an acrobatic forager, often seen clinging upside down to tree trunks and branches as it searches for food.
The bird is also one of the few birds that can walk headfirst down a tree trunk.
The red-breasted nuthatch gets its name from its habit of wedging acorns and other nuts into cracks in tree bark, then using its sharp bill to open the nut and eat the contents. Additionally, this bird is known to eat berries and spiders.
Eastern Towhee
The eastern towhee is a large songbird with a distinctive black head and back and bright red eyes. This bird is found in woods and brushy areas across the eastern United States.
The eastern towhee is a ground-dwelling bird, spending most of its time on the ground searching for food. It mainly eats insects and invertebrates, but will also consume berries and seeds.
Eastern Towhees are usually solitary, and they use a number of threat displays to communicate with other towhees. Towhee males, for instance, may lift, spread, or droop one or both wings, fan their tails, or flick their tails to display white spots at the corners.
Black-Headed Grosbeak
The black-headed grosbeak is a medium-sized black and orange bird. The male bird has a bright yellow body, while the female is drabber in color. These birds are found in the western United States and are known to visit nectar feeders.
Black-Headed Grosbeak will also nest in your yard if there’s enough cover and water nearby. The unique coloration of this bird and its penchant for nectar make it an interesting bird.
In terms of diet, the black-headed grosbeak is a seed-eater, but it will also eat insects and berries. In spring, birdwatchers can often hear these birds singing their beautiful songs.
In the winter, these birds migrate to Central and South America. If you have the opportunity to see one of these birds up close, you’re sure to be impressed!
Varied Thrush
The varied thrush is a medium-sized songbird with orange-red breasts. These birds are found in forests across the western United States and Canada.
The bird is mostly black, with a blue back and orange underparts.
The throat and face are also orange, and there is a black breast band across the chest. The female Varied Thrush is similar in appearance to the male but is paler in coloration. It nests in trees and shrubs, usually near the ground.
Also known for its trilling song, the Varied Thrush has an interesting call. This Bird often sits on exposed perches to sing their songs, which helps to attract a mate. Its diet consists mainly of insects, but it will also eat nuts and fruit.
Final Thoughts:
Though they are not as common as some other birds, there are still a variety of fascinating Orange-breasted birds to be found in the United States. These birds come in all shapes and sizes, and each has its own unique set of behaviors and habits.
From the striking orange plumage of the Baltimore oriole to the curious habits of the Red-Breasted Nuthatch, these creatures are sure to fascinate and delight any bird lover.
Be on the lookout next time you’re walking – you never know what kind of orange-chested bird you might spot.
