RECORD #: 7-B-06

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES:

Summer Tanager

REPORTER:

Jay Carlisle

6105 Kirkwood Rd

Boise, Id 83709

208-830-3363

jaycarlisle@boisestate.edu

OTHER OBSERVERS:

Jereme Sommers

DATE REPORT PREPARED:

May 11, 2006

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:

May 10, 2006

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

Camas NWR headquarters, NW of Hamer, Jefferson Co, Idaho

HABITAT:

Wooded oasis with cottonwoods and other trees/shrubs

CONDITIONS:

cool, calm, and clear; Swarovski EL 10x42; about 10m from bird (it was about 20 feet up in a

cottonwood and I was about 15 feet away); sun was behind me

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?:

National Geographic, 4th edition and Sibley, Western US edition

DESCRIPTION:

The bird is in the Thraupidae family due to bright colors and the relatively deep and long bill. The

bird I saw had a bright red head merged in a splotchy way into a bright yellow belly and it had

greenish-yellow wings without wings bars.

BEHAVIOR:

The bird was in branches of a Cottonwood with an adult Western Tanager. At first (naked-eye)

glance, I assumed this Summer Tanager was a Western due to the red head and yellow belly.

However, I noticed the contrast in wing colors between the two birds and reached for the

binoculars and confirmed the ID. Neither bird called during my brief observation and I did not

observe any feeding attempts or flights. As I was in the middle of the bird banding study (and had

a number of birds in tow), I only looked at the bird long enough to confirm ID ... with the idea that I

would come later to observe the bird more but I was unable to re-find the bird.

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

IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?

The color pattern I saw is diagnostic for 2nd-year (1 year-old) Summer Tanagers. Thus, once I

saw the greenish-yellow wings combined with the red head blending to the yellow belly, I knew it

was a 2nd-year Summer Tanager.

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

Similar species would include the three widespread and regularly occurring tanager species in the

US. Western Tanager is the only expected tanager in Idaho - it can be eliminated because it has

dark wings with 2 light wing bars. Scarlet has dark wings whereas Hepatic has darker wings and

a dark bill.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

I have seen hundreds - both in the US and in Latin America.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

I have been interested in birds for about 16 years and actively birding for about 13 years.

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

None