Discussion 3: The Western Tanager

For this discussion I was assigned the

Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana). This
is a bird I have yet to see in my birding
expeditions around Everett. According to the
Seattle Audubon Society (2002) the Western
Tanager is of the Order: Passeriformes, and
the Family: Thraupidae. It is further noted
that this species has been observed as
increasing since 1966. It is for this reason
that the IUCN (International Union for
Conservation of Nature) has listed this species
as one of least concern.


So how does one recognize a Western Tanager?

Western Tanagers have a finch-like body
that is stockier and heavier than other
songbirds. Though a small bird they are
also noticeably larger than warblers.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
(2011) they also sport short, thick-based
bills and medium-length tails. Adult males
have flaming red-orange heads with yellow
bodies, as well as black wings, backs, and
tails. In addition, the wings have two bold
wing bars; the upper one [is] yellow and
the lower [one] is white (All About Birds
2011). Adult females only have red on the front of their faces. Also the yellow of
their bodies is more of a yellow-green. This makes the females appear more
subdued. The Seattle Audubon Society (2002) states that all of the dark markings
[that] are solid black on mature males [are] grey to brown on females and
juveniles. Juveniles in fact lack any red.
Western Tanagers like to remain in the treetops, or canopy. Up there they
eat numerous insects, some fruit, berries, and on occasion buds. The Cornell Lab of
Ornithology (2011) asserts that Western Tanagers prefer coniferous and mixed
coniferous-deciduous woodlands for foraging, breeding and nesting. These birds
are described as being monogamous pairs, yet the females do the majority of the
work from finding a suitable nesting site to building the nest. After breeding the
females will generally lie between 3 to 5 eggs. However the males are attentive and
protective of the females during nest building and egg-laying. In fact both males and
females will protect their territory, as well as rear the young, which usually takes in
total about five weeks, from hatching to a couple of weeks after fledging.

As you can see by the range map
to the left Western Tanagers are
quite common in Washington
State between May and
September. One might see a
Western Tanager along the
Northwest Pacific Coast, thru the
Puget Trough, all over the Cascade
Mountains, in the Okanogan Hills,
and the Blue Mountains.
Commonly their song gets
mistaken for that of the American
Robin. According to the Cornell
Lab of Ornithology (2011) when
listening for a Western Tanagers
song or call one should, listen for
a loud, hoarse, rising-and-
following song of two-, three-, or
four-note phrases. Their calls
have a more rattling sound, which
get referred to as the Pit-it-it,
Pititik-pititur, and Tu-weep (All
About Birds 2011). To hear the
various bird songs and calls check
out this link
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/gui
de/Western_Tanager/sounds.

Was there anything learned that was a surprise?
The short answer to that question is yes! First, on this list, is the fact that the
Western Tanager is the most northerly of the species. Second, is that the males will
tumble past females in a courtship ritual, where their bright plumage flashes yellow
and black. This antic is a most eye-catching display. Thirdly, the Western Tanager
gets its scarlet head feathers from a rare pigment called rhodoxanthin (All About
Birds 2011). They get this pigment from the insects that make up their diet, as they
are unable to create the substance within their own bodies.

References
All About Birds [Internet]. (2011). The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Cornell
University; [2014; N/A] Available from:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1189.
Bird Web [Internet]. (2002-2005). Phase I & Phase II. Seattle, WA: Seattle Audubon
Society; [Date Cited: May 7, 2014]. Available from:
http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/western_tanager.