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The Western Tanager, Piranga ludoviciana, is a medium-sized Tanager.
Description:
Adults have pale stout pointed bills, yellow underparts and light wing bars.
Adult males have a bright red face and a yellow nape, shoulder, and rump, with black upper back, wings, and tail; in non-breeding plumage the head has no more than a reddish cast and the body has an olive tinge.
Females have a yellow head and are olive on the back, with dark wings and tail.
Song / Call:
The song of disconnected short phrases suggests an American Robin's but is hoarser and rather monotonous. The call is described as "pit-er-ick".
Distribution and Habitat:
Their breeding habitat is coniferous or mixed woods across western North America from the U.S.-Mexican border as far north as southern Alaska; thus they are the northernmost-breeding tanager.
These tanagers migrate, wintering from central Mexico to Costa Rica. Some also winter in southern California.
Breeding:
The Western Tanagers build flimsy cup nests on horizontal tree branches, usually in a conifers. The hens lay clutches averaging four bluish-green eggs with brown spots.
Diet / Feeding:
These tanagers forage high in trees, sometimes flying out to catch insects in flight.
They mainly eat insects, fruits and berries.
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