English and Scientific names:

Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)

Number of individuals: 

one female, presumably adult

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

East Baton Rouge Parish

Specific Locality:

Back yard at 2520 Olive Street, Baton Rouge (and
neighboring yards)

Date(s) when observed:

January 17, 2008 through at least January 28,
2008 (date of report)

Time(s) of day when observed:  

10:00 AM on initial sighting, bird
observed repeatedly daily since

Reporting observer and address:

Kevin P. Morgan
Baton Rouge, LA 

Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

none

Other observers accompanying reporter who independently identified the bird(s):

Marty Guidry; Jeff Harris

Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

Fairly bright sunny day, bird observed from window
looking south into yard.

Optical equipment: 

Binoculars (10x42 in good condition)

Distance to bird(s): 

Approximately 25 feet

Duration of observation:

Several minutes each time the bird appeared

Habitat: 

Suburban/urban trees in older neighborhood with good canopy and cover

Behavior of bird: 

Bird landed in crepe myrtle trees in yard and
immediately approached suet feeders located in those trees and on a neighboring hackberry tree. Familiarity with yard and the feeders suggests this may be the same individual recorded beginning in February 2007 at the same site.

Description:

Olive greenish dorsal side, yellowish ventral side,
slightly smaller than a nearby Northern Cardinal. Wings were darker with two wing bars, the first yellow, the second white. Bill was pale and heavy, between the conical shape of a finch and the sharp pointed shape of an oriole.

Voice:

Not heard.

Similar species:

Other tanagers (eliminated by the wingbars observed);
female/immature male orioles (general coloration wrong, bill wrong shape).

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

Yes. Attached for report. Photos were also obtained by Marty Guidry.

Previous experience with this species: 

Have observed several adult males but this (and
last year's bird, if different) are the first female individuals
observed.

Identification aids:

at time of observation: Sibley's Guide to Birds
after observation: NG Field Guide to the Birds of North America; NWF
Field Guide to Birds.

This description is written from: 

Mostly from memory bolstered by the
photographs taken and an initial report made on LABIRD-L at the time.

Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain: 

 

Yes.

Reporter: 

Kevin P. Morgan

Date and time: 

January 28, 2008 11:30 PM