Western TanagerWestern Tanager -- South Dakota Birds
| Length: 7 inches | Wingspan: 11.5 inches | Seasonality: Summer/Migrant |
| ID Keys: Yellow body, black wings and tail, reddish head (male). Female olive with darker wings, white wing bars. | ||
Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
Western Tanagers are the most northerly of the Tanagers found in North America., summering as far north as northern British Columbia. They prefer higher elevation conifer forests for breeding, and in South Dakota, are most often found in the Black Hills.
Habitat: Prefers conifer or mixed forest and woodland. Seems to prefer open conifer forest more than dense forest.
Diet: Primarily insects, especially early in the summer when raising young. Later during the breeding season they begin to eat more fruits and berries.
Nesting: June and July
Breeding Map: Breeding Bird Survey map
Song: Western Tanager Song
Migrations: Summers in the western U.S. and Canada. Winters in Mexico, Central America, and South America.
Similar Species: Scarlet Tanager
Feeders: Will come for cut fruit, nectar, and baked goods.
Status: Numbers currently appear to be stable, with no major threats to their population.
Further Information: 1) USGS
Patuxent
Bird Identification InfoCenter, Western Tanager
2) Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Western Tanager
3) eNature.com -Western Tanager
Photo Information: August 8th, 2007 - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - Terry Sohl
Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Western Tanager photos.
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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl
This page was last edited on 02/03/08
