Western tanager

The western tanager is a medium-sized songbird native to North America. Though it was once classified within the tanager family, it is now grouped with cardinals. Male western tanagers are easily recognizable by their vibrant red faces and yellow markings, while females boast a yellow head and olive back.

These birds favor coniferous or mixed woodlands and range from southern Alaska to southern Mexico. They construct cup-shaped nests in trees and lay bluish-green eggs speckled with brown. As winter approaches, they migrate to Central Mexico and Costa Rica, with some even traveling to southern California.

Western tanagers typically migrate alone or in small groups. They arrive at their breeding grounds in the spring, with the breeding season extending from May to July. The female is responsible for building the nest, which typically contains three to five eggs. Both parents contribute to feeding the young, who fledge approximately 11 to 15 days after hatching. The success of raising their offspring can vary significantly from year to year.

During the breeding season, these birds prefer open coniferous forests and mixed woodlands. While migrating or wintering, they adapt to various habitats. Their nests are usually placed on horizontal branches more than 10 feet above the ground in mature conifer forests. For sustenance, western tanagers primarily forage by picking insects and fruits from foliage or catching them mid-air.

Western tanagers face several threats. Predators such as hawks, owls, black bears, and snakes pose significant dangers. Additionally, their nests are sometimes parasitized by brown-headed cowbirds, which can negatively impact the number of young birds that successfully fledge.