English and Scientific names:	Western Tanager/Piranga ludoviciana
Number of individuals:	1 individual----female or young male???
Locality: LOUISIANA:	Jefferson Parish
Specific Locality:	7304 Stoneleigh Drive, Harahan Louisiana small surburban backyard
Date(s) when observed:	3/2/09-3/09/09
Time(s) of day when observed:	bird fed regularly between 9AM - 11 AM daily and sporadically rest of day
Reporting observer and address:	Cathy DiSalvo Harahan, LA 70123
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	Phil DiSalvo, Bob Eble, Craig Mineo, Beth Wiggins
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):	none
Light conditions:	bird on feeders in bright shade and sun at times, in open
Optical equipment:	original photos digiscoped with Swarvoski scope on 20 power approximately 20-25ft from bird through a window with a Canon Power shot sd550 Later photos taken by Beth Wiggins
Distance to bird(s):	bird first observed from inside the house on 2 different feeders, one observaton was 5 feet from window on suet feeder, just above eye level and second sighting was from window about 12 feet from feeder eye level
Duration of observation:	bird was observed often, for 2-3 minute intervals regularly over several days
Habitat:	small suburban backyard with 2 large oaks and small pond,bird bath,and several bird beeders. Yard also includes 2 Hollies (Ilex cassine)with small red berries. House is adjacent to river road along the Mississippi River outside New Orleans.
Behavior of bird:	bird was actively feeding on sunflower chips from a small open feeder tray and on suet hanging from one of the oaks. would sometimes drop to the bird bath below the feeder and drink or a minute or 2 and then fly up into a Cassine Holly tree nearby. It was not intimidated by other birds in the yard who wanted to share the feeder, often exhibiting some what aggressive behavior as they approached. (ie house finces, woodpeckers, jays and mockingbirds)
Description:	7 inch full-bodied bird with large wedge shaped bill, with yellowish orange lower mandible, and yellowish orange upper mandible with grey triangular coloration on dorsal surface. Large dark eye. mantle and wings charcoal grey with bright greeninsh yellow rump. Head and underparts greenish yellow with diffuse grey feathering. small 1 pale yellow wing bar. Tail charcaol grey with notch.
Voice:	no vocalizations heard.
Similar species:	scarlet tanager----some female tanagers may have a pale wingbar but mantle, head and rump are same olive green and bill more yellowish, as compared to western whose back is dusky grey that contrasts with yellowish nape and rump summer tanager----does not show wing bars in any plumage orioles-----bill thicker and less sharply pointed
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	photographs taken by Beth Wiggins and by Cathy DiSalvo
Previous experience with this species?	have seen several male western tanagers , but many years ago, never a female or young male
Identification aids: at time of observation:	National Geographic Field Guides for the Birds The Sibley Guide to Birds
after observation:	National Geographic field Guides for birds The Sibley Guide to Birds photo consult with David Muth, Van Rensen, Steve Cardiff
Notes made from?	description initally taken at time of several viewings through spotting scope
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	yes
Reporter:	Cathy DiSalvo
Date and time:	3/14/2009 11AM