The scarlet tanager is a beautiful little songbird found in eastern North America. With its bright red body and black wings, it’s easy to see why someone might want one as a pet. However, there are a few important factors to consider before attempting to keep a scarlet tanager in captivity.
Legalities
In the United States, it is illegal to keep native wild songbirds like the scarlet tanager as pets under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This law prohibits harming, killing, trading, transporting, or possessing migratory birds without a permit. Fines for violating the MBTA can be up to $15,000 and include possible jail time. Other countries may have similar laws restricting or prohibiting private ownership of native wildlife.
Difficulty of Care
Tanagers are delicate, sensitive birds that have very specific environmental and dietary needs that would be challenging to meet in captivity. Here are some of the difficulties with keeping scarlet tanagers as pets:
- Diet – Tanagers eat mainly insects and fruit. Replicating this varied diet would be difficult, especially long-term.
- Caging – Tanagers need a very large, tall flight enclosure to accommodate their flying needs. The cage would have to simulate a natural environment.
- Social needs – Tanagers are social flocking birds that do poorly in isolation. They would need the companionship of other tanager birds.
- Climate – Accurately replicating the seasonal light cycles, temperatures, and humidity of the tanager’s natural range would be hard.
- Stress – Tanagers are sensitive to disturbance and novelty. The stresses of captivity could lead to illness.
- Wild capture – Taking tanagers from the wild would be harmful to wild populations.
Even experienced aviculturalists would struggle to meet the environmental and psychological needs of scarlet tanagers. The technical challenges and potential risks to the bird’s wellbeing likely outweigh the benefits of keeping them as pets.
Alternative Pets
For those seeking a brightly colored songbird as a pet, there are better options than native wild tanagers. Some alternatives include:
- Domestic canaries – Well-established pet birds available in bright yellow, orange, and red colors.
- Bengalese finches – Small active songbirds with vivid plumage, easy to care for.
- Parrot finches – Cute grass parakeets with tanager-like red bodies and black tails.
- Yellow or red factor canaries – Bred for their exotic, vivid plumage colors.
These types of pet birds are bred in captivity for many generations to thrive as companion animals. Their needs can be readily met in household environments. For those who admire scarlet tanagers, it’s best to enjoy them in their natural habitat through birdwatching and conservation efforts.
Captive Conservation Flocks
The only scenario where scarlet tanagers could be ethically kept in captivity is in conservation breeding flocks at accredited zoos or research centers. Facilities like these have the expertise, resources, and permits required to legally house sensitive wild birds. Some major reasons zoos may keep threatened tanager populations include:
- Public education – Displays allow people to connect with rare species.
- Research – Studying physiology, behavior, breeding, etc. to expand scientific knowledge.
- Reintroduction – Building sustainable captive flocks to reestablish wild populations.
- Safeguarding – Protecting species if at high risk of extinction in the wild.
Responsible zoos aim to provide excellent lifetime care for individuals and positively contribute to species conservation. Through managed programs, accredited institutions can legally and ethically house wild birds like scarlet tanagers that would suffer in private hands.
The Bottom Line
Here is a quick summary of key points on scarlet tanagers as pets:
Argument | Reasoning |
---|---|
Legality | It’s illegal to keep native wild birds like tanagers without permits in the U.S. and many other countries. |
Welfare | Meeting tanagers’ specialized needs in captivity is exceptionally difficult. |
Conservation | Removing tanagers from the wild is ecologically harmful. |
Alternatives | Captive bred finches and canaries make better, legal pet birds. |
Expert Care | Only accredited zoos and research centers have the expertise and permits to ethically keep captive tanager populations. |
In summary, scarlet tanagers have very specific needs as wild animals that realistically can only be met by experts in conservation breeding programs. Admiring their beauty in the wild or choosing suitable pet bird alternatives are the best ways to appreciate scarlet tanagers for most people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to keep a scarlet tanager as a pet?
No, it is illegal to keep native wild songbirds like the scarlet tanager as pets under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the United States without special permits. Even with permits, their care requires avian expertise.
What problems could occur with keeping a scarlet tanager in captivity?
Problems include replicating their diet, housing, social and climate needs, high stress levels, increased disease risk, and supporting illegal trade by creating demand. Captivity poses many welfare concerns.
What are somealternatives to scarlet tanagers that can be kept as pets?
Better options include domesticated canaries and finches available in bright yellows, oranges, reds, and other colors. These breeds thrive as pets and are legal to own without permits.
In what situations could scarlet tanagers ethically be kept in captivity?
Accredited zoos and research institutions can legally and responsibly keep managed scarlet tanager populations for public education, scientific studies, conservation breeding, and reintroduction programs.
If I want to observe scarlet tanagers, what are my options?
Appreciating tanagers in the wild through birdwatching, enjoying them at accredited zoo aviaries, donating to conservation groups, planting native plants, and reducing pesticide usage are great ways to ethically observe these birds.
Conclusion
The scarlet tanager is a beautiful but delicate songbird unsuited to life as a pet. Laws prohibit private ownership and meeting their demanding care requirements in captivity poses many challenges and risks. Instead, these birds are best appreciated in their natural habitat through birdwatching or public education at accredited zoos. With conscious choices, we can all enjoy the flash of their crimson wings without doing harm.