Western Tanager

About

The Western Tanager is a striking medium-sized songbird known for the brilliant yellow and red plumage of the breeding male. It is a Neotropical migrant, breeding in coniferous and mixed forests across western North America and wintering in Mexico and Central America. Its diet consists primarily of insects and fruits.

Size & lifespan

Length

16-19 cm (6.3-7.5 in)

Wingspan

28-30 cm (11-12 in)

Weight

24-36 g (0.8-1.3 oz)

Lifespan

Up to 6-7 years in the wild

Diet

Omnivore (primarily insectivorous during breeding season, frugivorous during migration and winter)

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Adult breeding males are unmistakable with a bright red head, brilliant yellow body, and black back, wings, and tail. The wings have two prominent bars: a broad yellow bar and a narrower white bar. Adult females and non-breeding males are duller, typically yellowish-green on the head and back, with a yellow rump and underparts, and blackish wings with two wing bars (yellow and white, or sometimes just yellow).

Beak shape

Conical, relatively stout, and pointed; pale horn-colored to yellowish.

Eye color

Dark brown.

Leg color

Grayish-blue to dark gray.

Distinguishing features

The combination of yellow body, black wings with two wing bars (yellow and white), and the male's red head are key. The pale bill is also a good field mark.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles resemble adult females but are often duller, with streaky underparts and less defined wing bars. They gradually acquire adult plumage over their first year.

Seasonal changes

Breeding males have a fiery red head. After breeding, males undergo a prebasic molt, losing much of the red on the head, which becomes more yellowish-orange, and their body plumage becomes duller yellow. Females show less dramatic seasonal change, remaining largely yellowish-green year-round, though their plumage may appear fresher after molt.

Sexual dimorphism

Pronounced. Males are much more brightly colored, especially during breeding season, with a red head and vivid yellow body. Females are predominantly yellowish-green with less distinct wing bars and no red on the head.

How to identify

1. 1

   Male Plumage (Breeding)

   Look for the unmistakable combination of a bright red head, brilliant yellow body, and black back, wings, and tail. Note the two distinct wing bars: a broad yellow bar and a narrower white bar.

2. 2

   Female/Immature Plumage

   Identify by the yellowish-green head and back, yellow rump and underparts, and blackish wings with two wing bars (yellow and white). The pale, conical bill is also a good clue.

3. 3

   Wing Bars

   The presence of two distinct wing bars (yellow and white) on blackish wings is a key field mark for both sexes and all ages, distinguishing it from other tanager species in North America.

4. 4

   Bill Color

   The pale, often yellowish or horn-colored, conical bill is a useful identification feature, especially for females and immatures.

5. 5

   Song

   Listen for the distinctive, hoarse, burry song, often described as a 'robin with a sore throat' – 'chick-churr, chick-churr'.

6. 6

   Call

   Listen for the dry, rolling 'pit-er-ick' or 'prr-it' call, often given in flight or while foraging.

7. 7

   Habitat

   In western North America, look for them in coniferous or mixed forests during the breeding season. During migration, they can be found in a wider variety of wooded habitats.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Coniferous forests, mixed forests, open woodlands, riparian areas.

Geographic range

Breeds across western North America, from southeastern Alaska and western Canada south through the western United States to northern Baja California. Winters from central Mexico south through Central America to Costa Rica.

Elevation range

Breeds from sea level up to 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) in mountainous regions. During migration and winter, found at various elevations, often lower.

Preferred environments

Prefers open coniferous or mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, especially those with Ponderosa Pine, Douglas-fir, and spruce. Also found in aspen groves and riparian woodlands. During migration, they can be found in a wider variety of habitats, including suburban parks and gardens.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal.

Feeding habits

Primarily insectivorous during the breeding season, foraging for insects (wasps, bees, beetles, ants, grasshoppers, cicadas, caterpillars) by gleaning them from foliage or catching them in flight. During migration and winter, their diet shifts to include a significant amount of fruit (berries, drupes) and nectar. They often forage high in the canopy.

Social behavior

Generally solitary or found in pairs during the breeding season. During migration and winter, they can form loose flocks, sometimes associating with other species like orioles and warblers.

Flight pattern

Strong, direct, and undulating flight during migration. Within their breeding grounds, flight is typically short and agile between trees.

Migration pattern

Long-distance Neotropical migrant. They migrate south in late summer/early fall (August-October) and return north in spring (April-June). They often travel at night.

Territoriality

Males establish and defend breeding territories through song and displays.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Late May to August, peaking in June and July.

Nesting habits

Nests are typically built by the female, usually high in a coniferous tree (e.g., pine, fir, spruce), often on a horizontal branch away from the trunk. The nest is a shallow, open cup made of twigs, rootlets, grasses, and bark strips, lined with finer materials like hair and fine grasses.

Clutch size

3-5 eggs, typically 4.

Egg description

3-5 eggs, pale blue to greenish-blue, often speckled or spotted with reddish-brown or purplish markings, particularly at the larger end. Eggs measure approximately 22 x 16 mm.

Incubation period

13-14 days, primarily by the female.

Fledging period

13-15 days after hatching. Young are fed by both parents.

Parental care

Both parents participate in feeding the nestlings and fledglings. The female primarily incubates, but the male brings food to the female on the nest and helps feed the young after hatching.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Look High in Trees. Western Tanagers often forage and sing high in the canopy, so scan the tops of tall trees.
2. Listen for Song and Calls. Their distinctive song and call notes are often easier to detect than spotting the bird itself, especially in dense foliage.
3. Check Fruiting Trees. During migration, check fruiting trees and shrubs for feeding individuals.
4. Visit During Migration. Spring and fall migration periods offer excellent opportunities to see them, as they may appear in a wider range of habitats, including urban areas.
5. Early Morning Activity. They are most active and vocal in the early morning hours.

Similar species

Quick facts

Family:

Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Grosbeaks)

Diet:

Insects and fruits

Migration:

Long-distance Neotropical migrant

Male Plumage:

Red head, yellow body, black wings with yellow and white bars

Female Plumage:

Yellowish-green, blackish wings with yellow and white bars

Conservation Status:

Least Concern

Fun facts

• The brilliant red color on the male's head is derived from pigments called rhodoxanthin, which they obtain from their diet, likely from insects that have consumed specific plants. They cannot synthesize this pigment themselves.
• Western Tanagers are one of the most colorful birds in western North America, making them a favorite among birdwatchers.
• During migration, Western Tanagers can sometimes be found far outside their typical range, occasionally appearing on the East Coast of North America.
• Despite their bright colors, they can be surprisingly difficult to spot as they often forage high in the dense canopy of coniferous trees.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Cardinalidae

Genus

Piranga

Species

Piranga ludoviciana

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