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Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

Photo by Tom15
Published on Project Noah
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42.6557, -70.6203

Field Notes

Notes:

Normally Western Tanagers are on the western half of North America and winter in Mexico and Central America. This one made a wrong turn during migration and ended up here on the Northeast coast.
They mainly feed on insects, but will feed on berries when insects aren't available. This one was feeding on juniper, sumac and euonymus berries.

Reference Links:

Western Tanager, Western Tanager, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)
Tom15
Jemma, I think it can survive the winter up here. It has plenty of food with all the berries, and in past years I've seen Western Tanagers at feeders here in the middle of the winter and it sounded like they made it OK. Last winter a Blue Grosbeak made it successfully through the winter at a feeder here in Massachusetts. Hummingbirds and west coast warblers don't make it when it gets really cold around here.
HemaShah
Tom, I am wondering,will it survive on the east coast?
Tom15
Thanks Fyn. I noticed your photos are looking rather nice lately!
Fyn Kynd
Nice. As always, I'm astounded by your images!
Tom15
Thanks Fyn. I check eBird occasionally, but haven't posted there yet, one of these days I'll start. I do post on Massbird though.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the World
Mission
Birds - Northeast US
Photographed
PublishedNovember 18, 2013

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