Western Tanager

Coming to this stage this week for Mug Monday we are so lucky to have the Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)! This SPECTACULAR species hails from the biological family CARDINALIDAE, which is home to not only cardinals, but also grosbeaks and buntings. This family of divas tends to have THICC bills and can have enough sass to steal the spotlight away from any other performer. You do NOT want to be subject to the ire of this family as their shade can HURT (take if from Efemmera, who used to assist in banding Northern Cardinals in Kentucky).

The mug of the Western Tanager (specifically the males) depicts them wearing blush TO THE NINES. Seeing a Western Tanager is an unmistakable experience as their brilliant flashes of yellow, red, and red announce their presence into any stage (all the world’s a stage, honey – even the outdoors). The coolest thing about the red pigmentation of male plumage is that they cannot make it themselves, they get it from their DIET. Because of this, you can assume that males with very red plumage EAT, and EAT WELL 💅. Similar to most bird species, the female Western Tanager has more tame plumage than the males, but still have a brilliant yellow coloration, similar to that of a goldfinch.

We here in Portland, OR are so lucky to have the Western Tanager brace our stage as they pass through as part of the spring migration! According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, they are capable of breeding here in Portland, but can go as far north as the Northwest Territories up in Canada. Typically, birds migrate further north for spring to get away from nest predators like snakes that might feast upon their eggs.

While spring migration is occurring, be sure to get off your phone and go outside for a chance to see these beautiful birds! Also be sure to turn off your lights at night to help these migrants find their way north <3.