Piranga rubra
male
The Summer Tanager is a colorful and attractive songbird with a peaked, not rounded, crown. The sexes are dissimilar. Adult males are bright red, but subtly darker on the wings and tail than elsewhere. Most females of all ages, and most immature males, are yellow-buff, but subtly darker on the wings, back, and tail than elsewhere; some individuals are very subtly mottled with red. By their first spring, males are blotchy red on the head, neck, breast, and back.
The Summer Tanager is present as a breeding species in southern U.S.A. mainly from May to August. It spends the rest of the year in Central America. The species is easily overlooked when perched or feeding in dappled foliage.
1st spring male
female
FACT FILE
LENGTH 7.75 in (19.5 cm)
FOOD Invertebrates, fruits, and berries
HABITAT Deciduous and mixed woodland
STATUS Widespread and common summer visitor
VOICE Song is a series of warbling whistles, recalling that of an American Robin. Call is a rattling pi-tuk
