Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Scarlet Tanager


Common at ROLF in the summer in the tops of trees. Best chance to see one is from a treehouse on the hillside. Female olive green to yellow. Immatures resemble females. First spring male is lighter red or orange rather than brilliant scarlet. In early fall, males may take on a mixture of green and red feathers as they molt to olive green for the winter. Scarlet Tanagers may be difficult to spot despite their brilliant coloring, as they often like to perch motionless high up in the canopy of trees. Some say the call sounds like a robin with a sore throat.

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