Bird lesson for the day! The difference between the Summer Tanager and Northern Cardinal are subtle, but also striking. With both being a brilliant and vibrant red, there are some big differences in the two species. Cardinals do wear a black mask on their face while a Summer Tanager does not! Also, in the Texas Hill Country the Summer Tanager is a migratory species, while the Northern Cardinal is a permanent visitor. That concludes your lesson for the day.