Hilton Head Island, located off the coast of South Carolina, is home to a diverse array of bird species. The island’s combination of beaches, maritime forests, salt marshes, and freshwater wetlands provides excellent habitat for both resident and migratory birds.
When it comes to colorful plumage, several Hilton Head birds stand out as being particularly vibrant and eye-catching. In this article, we’ll highlight some of the most colorful birds frequently seen on Hilton Head Island and discuss what makes their feathers so bright and beautiful.
Painted Bunting
One of the most spectacularly colored birds on Hilton Head Island is the painted bunting. The male painted bunting is often described as the most colorful bird in North America. It has a bright red underside, an emerald green back, and a purple-blue head. This shocking combination of colors makes the painted bunting easy to spot amidst green foliage.
Female painted buntings are more subtly colored, with greenish-yellow undersides and olive upperparts. But the males are unmistakable. The brilliant hues are produced by specialized carotenoid pigments in the feathers that reflect specific wavelengths of light.
Painted buntings migrate through Hilton Head Island in spring and fall, stopping to rest and refuel during their journeys between their wintering grounds in South Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean and their breeding habitats across the southeastern United States. The best times to see painted buntings on Hilton Head are April and May during spring migration and September through November during fall migration.
Where and When to See Painted Buntings on Hilton Head
Some of the top spots on Hilton Head Island to spot painted buntings during migration include:
- Sea Pines Forest Preserve
- Audubon Newhall Preserve
- Fish Haul Creek Park
- Mitchelville Freedom Park
Painted buntings often forage on the ground or in low bushes and shrubs seeking seeds and insects. Watch for their flashes of red, green, and blue as they flit through the understory.
Red-winged Blackbird
Another exceptionally colorful bird found year-round on Hilton Head Island is the red-winged blackbird. As its name suggests, red-winged blackbirds are glossy black overall, but male birds have vivid scarlet-red shoulder patches edged with a thin yellow line.
These bright red “epaulets” are displayed prominently when the birds are flying or defending their territories. The red wings contrast starkly against the black plumage and are easy to spot from a distance.
Female red-winged blackbirds are mostly dark brown rather than black, streaked with tan and white. They lack the red shoulder patches. But the males make up for it with their eye-popping wing patches, which they use to attract females and signal aggression to other males.
Where to See Red-winged Blackbirds on Hilton Head
Look and listen for red-winged blackbirds in the following habitats on Hilton Head:
- Freshwater marshes
- Wet meadows
- Ditches and roadside wetlands
You’re likely to see male redwings perched conspicuously on cattails and reeds bordering water. Watch closely and you may witness territorial displays and courtship rituals featuring prominent shows of those crimson wings.
Painted Honeyeater
The painted honeyeater is a striking bird that occasionally wanders to Hilton Head Island from its native Australia. This medium-sized honeyeater has velvety black upperparts contrasting with a bright yellow underside. The tail is tipped with white spots. But the most eye-catching feature is the male’s vivid red eye wattle, which dangles next to the eye during flight.
Painted honeyeaters sip nectar from flowers and also eat fruits and insects. They forage in small flocks, chattering constantly with high, squeaky calls. In Australia, these highly social birds are nomadic, wandering far and wide in search of blossoms and fruiting trees.
Vagrant painted honeyeaters from Australia are sometimes spotted on Hilton Head Island in fall and winter after being blown off course during migration. Ebird records indicate sightings of individual painted honeyeaters on Hilton Head in November and December when Australian migrants are known to arrive in North America.
Where to Look for Painted Honeyeaters
Keep an eye out for these brightly colored strays in areas with flowering shrubs and trees like:
- Sea Pines Forest Preserve
- Coastal Discovery Museum Honey Horn grounds
- Barker Field
Examine flocks of migrating yellow-rumped warblers carefully in late fall and winter, as painted honeyeaters sometimes mix in. The male’s red eye wattle is the best clue to identify a painted honeyeater in a mixed foraging flock.
Scarlet Tanager
The scarlet tanager is a striking summertime visitor to the island’s maritime forests. Adult males are perhaps the reddest birds in eastern North America, with vivid crimson-red bodies contrasting with jet black wings and tail.
Females are mostly yellow with olive-green wings and back. The male’s breathtaking red plumage comes from carotenoid pigments in their diet of forest fruits. Scarlet tanagers breed in eastern hardwood forests and migrate to South America for winter.
In spring and summer, watch for scarlet tanagers in shady forested areas of Hilton Head Island, listening for their hoarse, robin-like songs. Migrants pass through the island in April and May on their way to breeding grounds farther north. Nesting activity peaks in June and July before the birds depart in late August and September.
Where to Find Scarlet Tanagers on Hilton Head
Prime spots to observe these dazzling red birds include:
- Sea Pines Forest Preserve
- Harry Heron Nature Trail at Harbour Town
- Audubon Newhall Preserve
Look high in the oak canopies for scarlet tanagers foraging for insects and fruit. Follow begging calls of the duller juveniles to find family groups after breeding season.
Painted Bunting vs. Indigo Bunting
Two small blue-and-red songbirds on Hilton Head that look similar are painted buntings and indigo buntings. Here’s a quick comparison to help distinguish these colorful summer visitors:
Bird | Colors | Bill Shape | Habitat |
---|---|---|---|
Painted Bunting | Red underside, green back, blue head (male) | Thick, cone-shaped | Forest edges, shrubs |
Indigo Bunting | All blue (male), brown (female) | Sharp, pointed | Open fields, roadsides |
The painted bunting’s tri-color pattern and thick bill are reliable ways to confirm an identification if you spot a blue, green, and red songbird on the island.
Conclusion
With its vibrant mix of temperate and tropical avifauna, Hilton Head Island is a fantastic place to find colorful birds. Showstoppers like painted buntings, red-winged blackbirds, scarlet tanagers, and the occasional painted honeyeater from Australia make birding on Hilton Head a true delight for the eyes.
The island’s diverse natural areas support breeding, migrating, and wintering birds in a myriad of hues. So explore the beaches, marshes, forests, and fields and see how many bright bird beauties you can spot around the island!