Yesterday afternoon, a mystery red bird appeared on one of our bluebird nesting boxes. The bird is larger than a finch -- slightly larger than our bluebirds. The bluebirds do not seem threatened by it -- they allowed it to stay, although they chase any other birds near their boxes away. The bird does not have a crest and does not have a black face mask. It is blood red, darker than the bright red of a cardinal. Its wings are more muted in color, with almost a grey-brown look to them. Belly is the same red, tail is the same red. We are on five acres of maintained grounds (thanks to my husband) but surrounded by open meadow to the north and west and state parklands (deciduous and coniferous) to the south and east in southeastern Michigan. I've tried different web sites and three different books, but the only bird that comes close is the summer tanager... and it seems that they aren't supposed to be as far north as Michigan. Any ideas what this bird may be?
