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English and Scientific names: |
Western Tanager, Piranga ludoviciana
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Number of individuals: |
1 non-breeding male |
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Locality: |
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Specific Locality: |
Grand Isle, yard on east side of |
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Date(s) when observed: |
11-21-2009 |
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Time(s) of day when observed: |
about 4:00 p.m. |
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Reporting observer and address: |
David P. Muth |
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Other observers
accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): |
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Other observers who independently
identified the bird(s) |
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Light conditions
(position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): |
It was afternoon in fading light and overcast;
bird was up in the canopy, partly silhouetted, east of my position. |
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Optical equipment: |
Eagle Optic Platinum Binoculars 10x50--good
condition |
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Distance to bird(s): |
approx. 45-55' |
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Duration of observation: |
less than one minute |
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Habitat: |
residential yard in a mature coastal live oak
stand adjacent to chenier woodlot |
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Behavior of bird: |
The bird was in a mixed species flock of
typical fall birds for Grand Isle (sapsucker, phoebe, kinglets, ganatcatchers, Orange-crowned, Yellow-rumped
and Palm warblers), feeding in the oaks, including a Magnolia Warbler. While
tracking down the Magnolia which I heard calling, I lost the tanager. |
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Description: |
I saw a bird fly out of the foliage and land
on a bare branch. It was an obvious tanager (peg bill, slim stream-lined
build, short tail), clear lemon yellow below, with a
red-orange wash on the face, prominent upper wing bar and noticeably narrower
lower wing bar. Beyond that I can provide no real description because I
dropped my binoculars and grabbed my digital camera and managed to get off
two poor shots. The bird flew back into the foliage and I shifted position to
try to get a closer shot in better light. It was then I heard the Magnolia
Warbler calling. Except for a couple of more quick glimpses of the bird high
in the oak, I did not see it again. |
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Voice: |
not heard |
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Similar species: |
The overall size and shape was typical for a
tanager, and the bill shape ruled out oriole. The combination of a
reddish-orange face and wingbars rule out other tanagers. My impression was
that it was completely yellow below. However, the one photo on which any
color or pattern can be seen (after enhancement), seems to show a contrasting
pale belly. The photo is so pixelated that it may
simply be misleading, but, given the brevity of the observation, my memory on
this could also be faulty. The color on the face that I remember seems to be
present in the photo, though, again, the photo is very grainy and had to be
brightened and have the contrast and hues manipulated to see anything at all. |
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Photographs or tape
recordings obtained? |
yes, submitted |
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Previous experience with
this species: |
fairly extensive--about ten in |
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Identification aids: |
usual thereafter |
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This description is written from: |
Primarily memory; when I entered it into Ebird I noted: "basic male in cemetery; yellow
below, orange-red face, prominent upper wing bar.” |
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Are you positive of your
identification? If not, explain: |
yes |
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Date and time: |
3-4-2010 |