Western Tanager

Despite its common name, the Western Tanager is genetically a member of the cardinal family (Cardinalidae) rather than the true tanagers of South America. It is one of the most brightly colored birds in North America, acting as a vibrant highlight in the mature evergreen forests they call home during the breeding season. The species is highly migratory, nesting as far north as southern Alaska and wintering deep in Mexico and Central America.

Adult males in breeding plumage are unmistakable, featuring a glowing flame-orange to red head, a bright yellow body, and a jet-black back, tail, and wings. They boast two distinct wingbars: a broad upper bar of yellow and a thinner, lower bar of white.

Females and immature males are much more understated, clad in olive-green above and pale yellow below. Their wings are greyish-black with two pale wingbars. Look for the relatively stocky, medium-sized body, a short and thick pale bill, and a complete lack of dark facial markings.

Similar Species

• Scarlet Tanager: The male Scarlet Tanager has an entirely red body and black wings without any wingbars, while females lack the distinct wingbars found on female Western Tanagers.
• Bullock''s Oriole: Orioles have much longer, pointier, dagger-like bills, more orange on the body, and different facial patterning, including a black eye-line.

During the nesting season, Western Tanagers inhabit open coniferous and mixed forests, showing a strong preference for Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, and spruce-fir woodlands. They are typically birds of the high canopy, often remaining hidden despite their bright coloration.

During spring and fall migration, they pass through a much wider variety of habitats, including lowland parks, suburban gardens, orchards, desert oases, and riparian woodlands. They winter in open pine-oak forests, forest edges, and shade-grown coffee plantations in Mexico and Central America.

Feeding

Western Tanagers are specialized insect-eaters during the summer. They possess a high tolerance for bee and wasp stings and are skilled at "sallying" out from high perches to snatch insects right out of the air. They also glean caterpillars, beetles, and ants from the surfaces of leaves and bark. In late summer, fall, and winter, their diet shifts heavily toward berries, cherries, elderberries, and other small wild fruits.

Vocalizations

The male''s song is a series of short, buzzy phrases that sound remarkably like a hoarse American Robin, often described as "chur-ree, chir-ree, chee-ry." Their most common and recognizable call is a dry, rapid, three-syllable "pit-er-ick" or "pit-ti-tuck," which is highly diagnostic and easily alerts birders to their presence high in the trees.