CALIFORNIA

Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
Tanager Subfamily
7". Summer male back and tail black; collar, rump, and underparts yellow; wings black, with yellow shoulder, 1 white wing bar; head and throat red. Female and imm. back gray; head, rump, and underparts yellow; 2 whitish wing bars. Bill thick, conical. Colorful treetop dweller. Voice Song: 3 slurred, hoarse phrases. Call: per-dick. Habitat Coniferous forests to 9,000'. Range May-Sept.: Pacific slope coasts and mtns., n CA, Sierras. Apr.-May, Aug.-Sept.: all CA.

PHOTO: Brian Small