A Haiku
~
large bright yellow bill
color me a rosy red
my name, Tanager
~
Today’s Feathered Friend:
Summer Tanager
Male:
`Seven and three-quarters inches in length
`Bright rosy red overall – all year
`Large yellowish bill (more yellow during breeding season)
`Darker red wings and tail
Female:
`Yellowish below, slightly darker above
`Yellowish bill
`Olive-green upper parts
`Orange-yellow under parts
Facts:
`Tanager is from language of Tupi Indians of Amazon region, who called these brightly colored tree-drelling birds tangaras
`Most common North American tanager in its range – eastern and southern United States
`Song is Robin like and is a repeated Pick-a-Tuck
`Eats mostly bees and wasps and known to catch them right out of the air
`Habitat: Pine Oak woods, willows and cottonwoods, along streams
`Likes peanut butter and cornmeal from your feeder
~Neotropical migrant
~Vulnerable to habitat loss and forest fragmentation
`Host to Cowbirds, uncommon {yeah}
`Usually monogamous and many appear to remain in pairs all year
`Information taken from several sources including: Stokes Field Guide to Birds and Smithsonian Handbook Birds of North America, NGS Birds of North America
While camping at South Llano State Park in April of 2014, I captured these photos while sitting in a bird blind. It was a thrill to see this beautiful Summer Tanager up close. I also saw the female, but didn’t manage to capture her with my camera. She was pretty shy!
~
Added to my Birding Life List in April, 2007
at Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Cottonwood, Arizona
~
My Birding Life List – 366
Links:
Paying-Ready-Attention (Wild Bird Wednesday)
http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com
Prairie Birder (Feathers on Friday)
http://prairiebirder.wordpress.com
Wolf Song Blog 
He’s lovely, sure sticks out👍👍
Hi Barb! Yep, the color of this Tanager states “notice me”. I hope you are enjoying your spring!
Beautiful bird and beautiful pictures! You have more patience than me to be able to sit in a bird blind and wait!
Thank you so much! The Tanagers are gorgeous birds. My hubby would agree with you; he can stay for just so long. Me, I could stay a long time. It can be fun, especially if you are in there by yourself and have the best sit in the place! On the other hand, it is also fun to meet other birders and photographers. A lot of professional photographers will share info about their equipment, etc.
He is a beauty!
Thanks LuAnn! 🙂
Don’t have any of those beauties up here in Minnesota, but I did see a pair of scarlet tanagers yesterday.
Hi Judy! Your beautiful Scarlet would be a new Life bird for me! I would love to see them. We saw one Summer while walking around High Island when we were there. Happy Birding!
Beautiful shots of a very pretty bird. I wish I could have gone to Dead Horse Park but I work weekends, looks like you have fun!
Hi Dawn. Thank you so very much. The Summer Tanager is a beautiful bird. If you ever get a change to visit Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood, AZ, I know you would enjoy it very much. It is a great place for birding, hiking and just enjoying nature!
I’ve never seen a Summer Tanager before, so I’m very jealous of your photos!
My wish for you is to see a Summer Tanager. In fact I hope you see a pair; the difference in color is stunning!
Thank you.