Large and chunky with a thick silver bill. Males are red overall, with a grayish red back and a gray cheek patch.
Females and immature males are yellowish overall with a dark eyeline and a grayish cheek.
Sings slurred notes that rise and fall with short pauses interspersed. Often sings from the tops of pine trees.
Eats insects and fruits, often visiting fruit feeding stations.
Males are bright red with a gray cheek patch and a grayish back washed in red. Found in open pine and pine-oak forests.
Females/immature males are yellowish overall, but note gray cast to back and cheek. This video has no audio.
Individuals in Arizona often more orangish yellow on the throat and crown with a grayish cheek patch and back.
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A medium-sized, solidly built songbird with a short, heavy bill, relatively long tail and wings, and strong legs and feet.
Larger than a Hermit Thrush, smaller than an American Robin.
between sparrow and robinOrnithologists recognize 15 subspecies. Of these, only two inhabit the United States: hepatica mostly in Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, and the smaller, more brightly colored dextra in the rest of New Mexico and western Texas. The others inhabit Central and South America. Some studies suggest that at least two of these subspecies should be recognized as full species, the “Tooth-billed Tanager” of Costa Rica to northern South America, and the “Red Tanager” of eastern South America.
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