Meet The Eye-Catching Strawberry-Colored Bird Who Has Got To Be One Of The Most Striking Birds In North America
The summer tanager is one of the most eye-catching birds in North America, with rosy red to orange plumage that stands out in the treetops. Its bright coloring and distinctive song make it easy to spot, especially when the light hits those feathers just right.
Adult males are fully red, while younger males and females show softer shades of yellow, olive, and orange. Known scientifically as Piranga rubra, this medium-sized songbird lives in open woodlands, feeds on insects and berries, and often stays high in the canopy while it hunts.
From its vivid color to its unusual feeding habits, this bird has plenty going for it. And once you see it against a green forest backdrop, it is hard to forget.
Meet the Summer Tanager
Male summer tanagers are radiant rose or orange-red throughout the year, and this species measures 6.7 inches in length. They are distinguished from scarlet tanagers by their paler plumage.
Additionally, the summer tanager's wings are red rather than black.
Isn't she a beauty?
Juvenile males generally resemble females, as both are radiant yellow-green—more yellowish on the head and underparts and somewhat greener on the wings and back.
Look at those colors...
In general, females are more olive above and orange-yellow underneath. Their wings and tail have an olive-brown color, and some females develop male pigmentation as they grow older.
The striking bird has huge, thick bills that are blunt-tipped.
The male summer tanager has a sweet, whistling tune similar to that of an American robin; both genders produce an unmistakable pit-ti-tuck call note.
And if you love tiny color power, meet the bee hummingbird that looks like an evolutionary marvel.
Let's build a nest!
When they arrive at their breeding grounds in spring, summer tanagers typically construct a nest on a horizontal branch between 2.5 to 10.5 meters above the ground. The nest is exclusively built by the female from herbaceous vegetation lined with grass, and it usually contains 3 to 4 eggs.
Sightseeing time...
Incubation is solely the responsibility of the female and lasts between 12 to 13 days. Depending on his preference, the male may care for the female during this time or focus on preening his feathers.
However, once the chicks hatch, the male quickly steps in to assist the female with feeding and to attend to their needs. The chicks leave the nest after 8 to 10 weeks.
Don't I look gorgeous?
Have a look...
Watch and listen to the summer tanager below:
In the southern and eastern United States, these birds can be found in regions south of southern Pennsylvania and northern Illinois. In winter, they migrate to northern South America and Mexico. This species has an incredibly vast range; therefore, they do not approach the Vulnerable threshold under the IUCN range size criterion. Please comment and share this video with all your loved ones who adore birds. Sharing is caring!
What a bright little showstopper.
Wait, check out how the masked cardinal’s black-and-white coat clashes with its red head.
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