In spring and summer in Southern California, we are quite likely to see a few brilliantly-hued songbirds that, to the novice birder, can be mistaken for some exotic zoo escapee. The Western Tanager is one such species. The breeding colors of the male consist of a red head, pale yellow wing bars on dark gray to black wings, dark tail and a greenish-yellow nape and rump. As usual, the female is less colorful, with none of the vibrant hues of the male.
Female tanagers resemble female orioles in color.
However, the female tanager has a thicker bill and a chunkier shape than the oriole. The habitat of the tanager is primarily open, coniferous forest. Although they breed in California, they winter in Mexico and Central America. In late spring and early summer, they feed primarily on wasps, bees, ants, beetles and bugs. Later, they feed on cherry, raspberry, mulberry, elderberry and serviceberry.