Birds
Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana · also called western tanagers
Perched in a stand of conifers further north than any other tanager species breeds, a male western tanager displays a red head coloured by a rare dietary pigment rather than one his own body produces, a genuinely unusual source of colour among North American songbirds.
Overview
The western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana, is a bright yellow and black songbird native to forest and mountain breeding habitat across western North America, wintering in Mexico and Central America. Its diet-derived red head pigment, unusually far-north breeding range, and occasional hybridisation with the flame-colored tanager make it one of the most physiologically and geographically distinctive tanagers found anywhere in North America.
A colour borrowed, not made
Rather than manufacturing its own red pigment as most songbirds do, the western tanager’s males rely on a rare compound absorbed directly through diet, turning a simple foraging choice into the source of one of the species’ most striking features.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable forest and mountain breeding habitat throughout western North America.
Western Tanager: common questions
Why is the western tanager's red head unusual?
A male of this species develops red head colouring from a rare pigment obtained through its diet rather than produced internally by the bird's own body, an unusual source of colouration among songbirds, most of which synthesise their pigments rather than relying on a specific dietary source.
How far north does the western tanager breed?
This species breeds further north into Canada than any other tanager species, tolerating cooler mountain forest conditions unusual for a family more typically associated with warmer, tropical climates.
Does the western tanager interbreed with other tanager species?
Yes, this species occasionally interbreeds with the closely related flame-colored tanager where their ranges overlap, producing hybrid individuals that show a mix of characteristics from both parent species.
What does the western tanager look like?
This species has a bright yellow body combined with black wings marked by white wing bars, along with a red head in breeding males, a bold colour combination that makes it one of the more visually distinctive tanagers found anywhere in North America.