Western Tanager Photo Gallery

Breeding male

Stocky songbirds noticeably larger and heavier-bodied than warblers. Breeding males are bright yellow with black wings and a flaming orange-red head. Note yellow shoulder and white wingbar.

Female

Medium-sized songbird with a thicker bill. Females are yellowish overall with dark wings marked by 2 wingbars.

Adult male

A fairly small, stocky songbird with a short, thick-based bill. Adult male is yellow with black wings and a flaming orange-red head.

Nonbreeding male

Nonbreeding males look similar to breeding males, but have a yellow head that slowly becomes red as they molt into breeding plumage.

Female

Some females are paler than others. This female has pale grayish underparts and yellowish undertail coverts.

Adult male

Quietly and methodically scans for insects and plucks them from twigs, branches, leaves, and flowers in the upper portions of forest trees and shrubs.

Female

Female alone builds nest and incubates eggs.

Female

Females are yellowish overall with a gray back and darker wings marked by 2 wingbars.

Immature male

Immature males have a scalloped-looking back. Head color varies from yellow to patchy red.

Adult male

Breeds in evergreen and mixed forests. During migration found in nearly any shrubby or wooded habitats, and even in fairly open country.