The Western tanager is a medium-sized songbird found in western North America. With its bright yellow body and red head, wings, and tail, the male Western tanager is an eye-catching bird. However, identifying the Western tanager is not always straightforward, especially because females and immature birds have a greener coloration overall. This article will discuss the physical features, song, habitat, range, diet, and behavior that can help you confidently identify a Western tanager.
Physical Features
The male Western tanager has a bright yellow body and black wings and tail. The wings have two distinct white wing bars. The head, throat and chest are red. The bill is pale pink or horn-colored. Females are similar but less brightly colored, often described as having an overall yellowish-green coloration. Immature birds resemble adult females.
Some key physical features to look for include:
Size and Shape
– About 7 inches in length
– Plump body, large head
– Short, thick, pointed bill
Color Pattern
Males:
– Bright yellow underparts
– Red head, throat, upper chest
– Black wings and tail with white wing bars
– White belly
Females:
– Olive-green upperparts
– Pale yellow underparts
– Gray wings and tail with two pale wing bars
– Yellowish wash on head, throat, chest
Behavior
– Forages for insects high in trees
– Hops between branches
– Perches upright
Song
The song of the Western tanager is often described as a rapid, staccato and repetitive “pit-ick” or “pick-it.” The song is faster-paced and more complex than other similar birds like the Scarlet Tanager. Listen for this distinct vocalization in appropriate habitat to help confirm the bird’s identity.
Habitat
During the breeding season, Western tanagers inhabit open coniferous forests and mixed woodlands, especially areas with tall Douglas firs. They are found along the West Coast, Mountain West, and southwest Canada.
In winter, they migrate to the mountain forests of Mexico and Central America. Look for them in areas like:
– Conifer and mixed forests
– Mountain meadows and ravines
– Forest edges and clearings
Range
Western tanagers breed in western North America, primarily west of the Rocky Mountains. Their breeding range extends from British Columbia south to Baja California, and east to the western parts of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
They migrate for the winter primarily to Mexico and Central America. A smaller number may winter in the southernmost parts of the southwestern U.S.
Diet
Western tanagers are primarily insectivores, feeding on insects and other arthropods like:
– Bees
– Wasps
– Ants
– Flies
– Butterflies
– Moths
– Spiders
– Beetles
They forage for insects in the canopy of trees, sometimes catching them in midair. Less commonly, they may eat fruit and seeds as well.
Behavior
Some typical behaviors of the Western tanager include:
Foraging and Feeding
– Forages by gleaning insects from leaves and branches
– Makes short sallies from perch to catch insects in flight
– Regularly probes into clusters of pine needles searching for insects
– Occasionally hangs upside down to look for insects
– Males and females often forage together during breeding season
Breeding and Nesting
– Males arrive at breeding grounds first, defending a territory
– Females arrive a few days later
– Breeding takes place May to July
– Bulky cup nest built high in a conifer tree
– Lays 3-5 eggs that are pale blue with brown spots
– Incubation lasts 13-14 days
– Young fledge the nest at around 14 days
Migration
– Migrates at night in small, loose flocks
– Spring migration occurs April through May
– Fall migration is August through early October
– Winters almost entirely in Mexico and Central America
Key Identification Tips
Here are some key points to help confirm you are looking at a Western tanager:
– Location – Seen during breeding season in appropriate habitat in western North America
– Bright red-and-yellow coloration of breeding male
– Two distinct wing bars on black wings
– Rapid, repetitive “pit-ick” or “pick-it” vocalization
– Foraging behavior – gleans insects from foliage, probes into pine clusters
– Associate sightings with habitat – open coniferous or mixed woodlands
Conclusion
Identifying the Western tanager is easiest if you see the brightly colored breeding male, however females and immatures can be a bit more tricky. Look for the distinctive red and yellow coloration, black wings with white wing bars, and listen for the rapid, staccato song. Pay attention to location, time of year, habitat, and foraging behavior too. With a little practice, you can confidently identify the Western tanager, one of the most vibrant songbirds of the western forests.
Feature | Male | Female |
---|---|---|
Overall color | Yellow body, red head, black wings & tail | Yellowish-green |
Wing bars | Two distinct white wing bars | |
Bill | Thick, pale pink or yellow | |
Song | Rapid “pit-ick” or “pick-it” | |
Habitat | Coniferous forests, mixed woodlands | |
Range | Western North America |
Further Reading
To learn more about identifying the Western tanager, consult field guides and resources such as:
– The Sibley Guide to Birds
– National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds
– All About Birds – Western Tanager overview from Cornell Lab of Ornithology
– Western Tanager species account – Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Getting experience seeing and identifying the Western tanager will also help cement your knowledge. Go birding in appropriate habitat during breeding season and listen for their distinctive call. With a little practice, spotting this bright songbird will become easy.