Scarlet and Yellow; a Visit from a Western Tanager
As the summer heat sets in, birds are in search of water sources. Water brings in birds of all kinds, especially as migration sets in. Bird baths become a beacon of bird activity; many species visit them for a quick drink. Birds of all sizes and colors will stop in for fresh water, like the Bullock’s Oriole, the vibrant House Finch, and even the Western Bluebird. Male birds are at their brightest at the height of breeding season. The combination of colors at our bird baths is like a painting, and that painting would be incomplete without the dazzling scarlet face and yellow body of the Western Tanager. As a summer visitor, the Western Tanager will spend a lot of time at any water source. Insects and fruit make up a large portion of the bird’s diet, so placing orange slices is another way to invite the bird to stay. They may partake in suet as well. The bird does not frequent seed feeders—the best way to attract them is by placing a bird bath.
Western Tanagers are known to spend their time in the canopies of evergreen forests. They favor open forests over flat lands. Trees provide shelter for the birds to hide and nest. They’re common in the mountains but will travel down into the cities with lots of tree-filled parks and orchards. A female Western Tanager will nest in these spaces. They search through the canopy for the best place to nest. The female Western Tanager is the primary nest builder. The male will stay near to guard the female and the nest. The female creates a flooring with larger twigs before lining the shape with smaller twigs and fine fibers like grasses and natural cotton. The nests are typically located at the top of the canopy. A female can lay up to five eggs and will nest for up to fifteen days. The male stays close, feeding the female while she sits on the nest. If she leaves the nest, the breeding pair are inseparable.
A Western Tanager’s visit to a bird bath, or orange slice feels like magic. Their brightly colored bodies meld with the other colors of summer visitors. In our parks and mountains, we will find the birds singing and nesting for the summer. They add a splash of color, and excitement, that makes us birders love the summer.
Maddie McDonald A Birder Who Might Pick Up Painting
