| The male Summer Tanager has Red Plumage which is brighter underneath. The female is a drab olive above and orangish-yellow underneath with gray colored wings and tail. If they did not live together, they would be mistaken for a different species. The male can be distinguished from its close cousin, the Scarlet Tanager, by its lack of black wings.
This bird can be difficult to observe as it prefers to perch in the treetops of its woodland habitat. The nests are bowl shaped and tend to be about mid-way up the tree. As you can see from the picture to the left they are especially fond of Oak trees. Probably because of the abundance of insects that feed upon the tree and make up the bulk of the tanager's diet, although the bird occasionally snacks on wild fruit.
During the breeding grounds for the summer tanager is mainly of the woodlands of the eastern half of the southern United States. While the tanager prefer oaks trees the bird will also inhabit Pine forests or willows and cottonwood trees that are near running water.
This bird winters in Central and northern South America.
Length 7 3/4 inches
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