Piranga ludoviciana
Weight: 0.8-1.3 oz (24-36 g)
Length: 6.3-7.5 in (16-19 cm)
Wingspan: 11.5 in (29.2 cm)
Habitat
Coniferous forests.
Diet
Mostly insects during breeding season. Mostly fruit in the fall and winter.
Identification
Males are yellow with black wings and a scarlet red head. Females a paler yellow with dusky gray wings. Both males and females have light wingbars. Voice is quick, soft, rising rattle prididit. Their flight call is a soft whistle howee or weet.
Behavior
Western Tanagers migrate across western North America, spending winters in Central America, and breeding as far north as Canada. While they are diurnal birds, Western Tanagers typically migrate at night.
Once returning to breeding habitats, males establish territories as early as late spring by singing. Males begin courtship by chasing females through the trees. Once partners have been established, females build nests over the course of 4 to 5 days in the open canopies of coniferous forests. Females lay a clutch of 3 to 5 blueish eggs that incubate over 11 days. Males stay close to the female as she nests, sometimes bringing her food. Both parents bring food to their young, until they leave the nest at two weeks old.
Tanagers spend the majority of their time methodically searching for food. They typically forage high in the canopies, looking for insects in the foliage, but can also catch flying insects in midair. They frequently visit flowers, both for nectar and insects. In the fall and winter, the Western Tanager’s diet primarily consists of fruit, including serviceberries, blackberries, and mullberries.
Conservation
Western Tanagers are common, with a global population of over 11 million individuals. There is no indication of declining numbers. Light pollution poses a threat to their ability to migrate at night.
Where to see at Bryce
You are most likely to see Western Tanagers during the summer months in our Ponderosa forests.
Further Reading
Cornell Lab Western Tanagers
Western Tanager Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Cornell’s Western Tanager Range Map
Western Tanager Range Map, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Audoban’s Guide to Western Birds
Western Tanager | Audubon Field Guide
