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Photo by Lynn Chamberlain
Photo Copyright Lynn Chamberlain
Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): S4B
External links
General information
The western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana, breeds in coniferous forests of western North America, and winters in southern Baja California, central and southern Mexico, and Central America. The breeding range of this tanager extends further north (southeastern Alaska) than that of any other tanager. The western tanager favors shaded habitat, which renders it difficult to spot in forests; during migration, however, large groups of western tanagers are often spotted in parks and other open areas. It resides in the mountains of Utah during the summer, where it nests at mid-elevations in coniferous and aspen forests. Migrants are often spotted along stream sides in Utah's valleys during the fall.
The western tanager eats mainly insects during its breeding season. During non-breeding seasons, the western tanager eats primarily fruits and berries. Pairs probably form on the wintering grounds or during migration, as pairs arrive at the breeding grounds together. The female builds a cup nest using twigs, grasses, rootlets, and animal hair. The female incubates four eggs for thirteen days. After the young hatch, the female continues to spend much of the day sitting with the hatchlings until they are nearly ready to the leave the nest. Hatchlings leave the nest after about two weeks, but they stay with their parents for another two weeks.
Species range
BREEDING: southeastern Alaska, through western Canada south through western U.S. to northern Baja California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, Arizona, southern New Mexico, and western Texas (one questionable record for southern Wisconsin). NON-BREEDING: southern Baja California and central mainland of Mexico south to Costa Rica (rarely southern U.S.), casually to western Panama.
Migration
Arrives in U.S. April-May (Terres 1980). Arrives in southern winter range late October, departs in April (Stiles and Skutch 1989).
Habitat
Breeds mostly in coniferous and mixed mountain woodlands. Migrates and winters in a variety of forest, woodland, scrub and partly open habitats (Terres 1980). Usually nests in conifer, on outer portion of limb, 3-20 m above ground (Terres 1980).
Food habits
Feeds on a wide variety of insects and fruit.
Ecology
Solitary in winter (Stiles and Skutch 1989).
Reproductive characteristics
Clutch size is 3-5. Incubation, by female, lasts about 13 days. Altricial young are tended by both adults.
References
- Behle, W. H., Sorensen, E. D. and C. M. White. 1985. Utah birds: a revised checklist. Utah Museum of Natural History, Occasional Publication No. 4. Salt Lake City, UT.
- Hayward, C. L., Cottam, C., Woodbury, A. M., and H. H. Frost. 1976. Birds of Utah. In Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs, No. 1 (Wood, S. L. and K. T. Harper, eds.). Brigham Young University, Provo, UT.
- Hudon, J. 1999. Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana). Birds of North America 432.
