Striking Strawberry-Colored Bird: One of the Most Captivating Avian Species in North America

Introducing the Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra), a bird adorned with a vivid red to orange plumage that spans from head to tail, accompanied by its distinctive song. Renowned for being among the most visually captivating species in North America, the Summer Tanager is an avian wonder that never fails to impress

Summer Tanager - Piranga rubra - Birds of the World

Male adult Summer Tanagers boast an intense red hue that radiates from their feathers, while immature males exhibit a more subdued yellow-olive shade with patches of smudged red. In contrast, females showcase a range of colors, varying from pale dull yellow to lighter orange tones.

The Summer Tanager is the sole bird in North America entirely dressed in red, making it a striking sight against the backdrop of green forest leaves. These birds breed once a year and raise one brood each summer.

Tập tin:Summer Tanager.jpg – Wikipedia tiếng Việt

While they form monogamous pairs for the duration of each breeding season, they are not necessarily monogamous across successive seasons, exhibiting a sequentially monogamous behavior.

Scientifically known as Piranga rubra, the Summer Tanager is a medium-sized American songbird that was previously classified in the tanager family, Thraupidae. However, it and other members of its genus are now categorized under the Cardinal family, Cardinalidae.

Red summer Tanager, Piranga rubra, red bird in the nature habitat. Tanager sitting on the green tree. Birdwatching in Costa Rica. Wildlife scene from nature, Laguna de Lagarta Lodge, Costa Rica. Stock

These tanagers prefer habitats in open woods, particularly areas with oak trees. They primarily feed on honey bees and wasps, though they also consume other insects and occasionally indulge in berries.

Summer Tanagers tend to stay high in the forest canopy, darting out to catch flying insects. They can also move slowly along tree branches to gather food.

Male Summer Tanagers are visually striking, featuring a year-round rosy or orange-red plumage. This species measures approximately 6.7 inches in length. They can be distinguished from Scarlet Tanagers by their paler plumage and the absence of black wings.

Juvenile males often resemble females, displaying a radiant yellow-green coloration—more yellow on the head and underparts, and somewhat greener on the wings and back.

Piranga roja (Piranga rubra) · NaturaLista Colombia

In general, females exhibit an olive coloration on the upperparts and orange-yellow underparts. Their wings and tail have an olive-brown hue, and some females develop male pigmentation as they mature.

The male Summer Tanager produces a sweet, whistling song reminiscent of an American Robin. Both males and females emit a distinct pit-tick call.

Upon arriving at their breeding grounds in spring, Summer Tanagers typically construct nests on horizontal branches, ranging from 2.5 to 10.5 meters above the ground. The female exclusively builds the nest using herbaceous vegetation lined with grass, and she lays 3 to 4 eggs in it.

Incubation is solely carried out by the female, lasting approximately 12 to 13 days. Depending on his inclination, the male may either care for the female during this time or attend to his plumage.

However, once the chicks hatch, the male takes full responsibility to assist the female in feeding and attending to their needs. The young birds fledge after 8 to 10 weeks.

This bird species can be found in the southern and eastern United States, extending southward from southern Pennsylvania and northern Illinois. During winter, they migrate to northern South America and Mexico.

With an incredibly vast range, this species does not meet the Vulnerable Threshold according to the IUCN range size criteria.