IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES:

Scarlet Tanager

HOW MANY:

1

REPORTER:

Jay Carlisle
6105 Kirkwood Rd
Boise, ID 83709

REPORTER EMAIL:

jaycarlisle@boisestate.edu

OTHER OBSERVERS:

Cliff Weisse

DATE REPORT PREPARED:

August 19, 2006

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:

June 3, 2006

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

Camas NWR headquarters, Jefferson County

HABITAT:

riparian deciduous woodland

CONDITIONS:

Somewhat overcast (had been stormy the previous night). I used Swarovski EL 10x42 binoculars, the sun was behind me, and I initially saw the bird at about 50m but it moved to within 20-30m.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:

No, not at all

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:

Yes, later the same day

WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:

Sibley and National Geographic (4th edition)

DESCRIPTION:

Bright red head and body feathers with blackish wings.

BEHAVIOR:

Was originally perched in dead upper branches of a cottonwood tree along Camas Creek and then flew to the lower branches of a willow, in which it was feeding. I did not hear the bird vocalize. It was a hugely busy day with migrants and there were many other birds around (including many Western Tanagers) but I did not see any specific interactions with other birds.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?

Naked eye I saw that this bird appeared more red than a Western Tanager (or even an adult male oriole for that matter) should. As soon as I put my binoculars on the bird and saw the red body contrasting with the solid black wings, the identification was made.

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

Western Tanager males have wing bars and mostly yellow bodies whereas Summer and Hepatic Tanagers do not have black wings.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

I have seen hundreds of this species in CT, SD, and other eastern states as well as in Central America during winter. I have also seen thousands of Western Tanagers and hundreds of Summer and Hepatic Tanagers both in the US and in Mexico/Central America.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

About 14 years of active birding and bird research.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:

None