summer tanager
1. Bird Name
The Summer Tanager, scientifically known as Piranga rubra, is a charismatic songbird species from the Cardinal family or Cardinalidae.
2. Appearance
The Summer Tanager is predominantly known for its vibrant and distinguishing coloration. Adult males are an intense shade of red all over, which deepens during the breeding season. They have a slightly rounded head with a chunky body. Conversely, females sport a softer palette consisting of an olive-yellow shade apropos their upper parts and a brighter yellow underside. Summer Tanagers also have a pointed, stout, and pale-colored beak compatible with their insectivore diet. Eye color tends to be dark and inconspicuous in comparison to their vivid plumage.
3. Size
Adult Summer Tanagers generally reach a length spanning 6.6–7.9 inches (17-20 cm). Their wingspan ranges approximately between 25-30 cm, or about 9.8-11.8 inches. They weigh approximately 30-40 grams, with males typically weighing slightly more than females.
4. Habitat & Distribution
The verdant forests of North and south America serve as the primary habitat of the Summer Tanager. In North America, they are summer residents spanning as far north as Southern Nebraska to as far south as Mexico. They migrate south to Central America and occasionally to northern parts of South America in the fall, where they spend their winter. Their preferred habitats include open woodlands, forest edges, and tree groves.
5. Interesting Facts
Summer Tanagers are fascinating for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they are one of the few bird species that can safely eat bees and wasps. They catch these insects in flight and neutralize the stinging apparatus before consumption. Additionally, this species is a long-distance migrant, covering thousands of kilometers during their migration from North America to Central and South America.
6. Diet
With a preference for live prey, the Summer Tanager’s diet largely consists of wasps, bees, beetles, grasshoppers, and other insects. They might also devour fruits and berries when insects are scarce during the winter.
7. Behavior & Sounds
Summer Tanagers are solitary birds, mainly found alone or in pairs during the breeding season. Their nests, built by females, laconically rest on horizontal tree branches. They have a rich, melodious song, typically a series of call notes that sounds like a “pit-ti-tuck” or “pity-pity-pity”.
8. Conservation Status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Summer Tanager as a species of least concern. However, their population is continuously monitored due to the loss of their habitat.
9. Lifespan
In the wild, Summer Tanagers have an average lifespan of around 7 years. However, the oldest recorded Summer Tanager was found to be about 11 years old.
10. Additional Notes
Locally, the bird is often referred to as “Moro” in Spanish. Summer Tanagers could sometimes be spotted in suburban yards where they interact obliquely with humans, scouring for insects or attracted to the bird feeders. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem, controlling the population of harmful insects such as beetles and wasps.
