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.
© Simon Boivin | Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 31, 2019Female
Medium-sized songbird with a thicker bill. Females are yellowish overall with dark wings marked by 2 wingbars.
© Brad Vissia | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, September 18, 2019Adult 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.
© Larry Arbanas | Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 01, 2006Not all videos have soundNonbreeding male
Nonbreeding males look similar to breeding males, but have a yellow head that slowly becomes red as they molt into breeding plumage.
© Mike Defina 🦅 | Macaulay LibraryPennsylvania, March 16, 2020Female
Some females are paler than others. This female has pale grayish underparts and yellowish undertail coverts.
© Luke Seitz | Macaulay LibraryMaine, December 10, 2020Female
Females are yellowish overall with a gray back and darker wings marked by 2 wingbars.
© Aaron Maizlish | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 28, 2015Immature male
Immature males have a scalloped-looking back. Head color varies from yellow to patchy red.
© Troy Corman | Macaulay LibraryArizona, June 07, 2017Adult male
Breeds in evergreen and mixed forests. During migration found in nearly any shrubby or wooded habitats, and even in fairly open country.
© John Drummond | Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 28, 2017Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Cardinals and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Cardinalidae)
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