Western Tanager

Although Western Tanagers (Piranga ludoviciana) are brilliantly colored and nest across much of the western United States and Canada, they can be hard to see most of the time. They nest in mountain forests and tend to stay hidden in the shade. During spring migration, however, these colorful birds become a common sight in yards, parks, and bird baths throughout the Willamette Valley.

Western Tanager Photographed by Roscoe Pirtle in Vancouver

by John Rakestraw

Males are bright yellow with black on the wings, tail, and back. The wings have two wing bars, one yellow and one white. Variable amounts of red appear on the head. The red may occur just around the base of the bill or may cover the entire head. Females are olive above, darkening to dusky gray on the back, wings and tail. The wings have two whitish wing bars. The underparts range from bright yellow to pale gray with a yellow wash.

Western Tanagers spend most of the year in Mexico and Central America. They arrive on their breeding grounds in May, and most have started their southbound migration by the end of August. Their nest is a flimsy cup built in a tree within open and mixed forests. The average clutch size is four.

Western Tanagers feed primarily on insects, taken from foliage or caught in the air. Fruit is also eaten, especially in winter. They are not common at bird feeders, but will sometimes take dried fruit or feed on orange halves. Western Tanagers have been known to eat Orchard Mason Bees when the birds find a bee block in spring. The most effective way to attract these birds to your yard is to provide a bird bath with moving water.